Police in Mardan have rescued a minor girl from being forcibly given in swara during a jirga held in the Lund Khwar area of Takht Bhai tehsil.
Jirga Intervention
According to police, the jirga was convened to settle a dispute in which a young girl was reportedly being offered in marriage to an elderly man as compensation.
The dispute stemmed from allegations that the girl’s uncle had an illicit relationship with the wife of the accused man.
Acting on information, police raided the gathering and stopped the decision from being carried out.
Arrests and Rescue
Authorities confirmed that:
- A case was registered against 12 individuals
- 11 jirga members have been arrested so far
- The minor girl was taken into protective custody
- She was later handed over safely to her mother
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About Swara Practice
Swara is a traditional but illegal practice in parts of Khyber Pakhtunkhwa where girls are forcibly given in marriage to settle disputes such as revenge cases or family conflicts.
The practice was declared unconstitutional and un-Islamic by the Federal Shariat Court in its ruling dated October 25, 2021.
Ongoing Concern
Despite legal bans, authorities and rights experts say such practices still occur in some rural areas, often under informal jirga systems, raising continued concerns over child protection and misuse of traditional dispute resolution mechanisms.
