 ISLAMABAD - A candidate in Pakistanâs Northwestern Frontier Province gave away his 11-year-old daughter to his opponent in exchange for latterâs withdrawal from next weekâ local elections, a news report said on Sunday.
| But she had the body of an eight year old ... |
Daily Times quoted an unnamed election official as saying that Ajoon, a resident of Kohistan district, more than 120 kilometres northwest of Islamabad, made the offer considering his opponent Vilayat Noor politically stronger. The two men were the only candidates for the post of nazim, or chief administrator. âHe wished to get elected unopposed ... thatâs why he also paid him (Noor) Rs. 200,000 (about 3,358 U.S. dollars),â the official told the newspaper.
In Pakistanâs semi-autonomous tribal regions and rural Punjab province, girls are also given away in marriage in the settlement of disputes though the custom called Swara or vani, already been declared illegal by a higher court.
Human rights groups and religious scholars also oppose the practice, describing it as un-Islamic.
| Un-islamic? Pshaw! The great Profit (PTUI) sez it's okay, why he married a nine-year old hisself. How can that be wrong, riddle me that!" |
Meanwhile, tribal elders and politicians have barred women from contesting the elections in some conservative districts of NWFP. âIt doesnât suit our traditions and culture,â Ayaz Khan, a provincial cabinet minister, said after signing an agreement banning womenâs participation in elections as candidate.
| "It ain't Islamic. Never saw the Profit (PTUI) sponsor a woman for an election, didya? Didya?" |
Such agreements have been signed among local elders and political partiesâ leaders in Dir, Batgram and Malakand districts. Human rights activists demanded the election commission postpone polls in those areas. |
