AUTHOR: Jerry "Jet" Whittaker TITLE: Teenage Girl Offered to Settle a 16-Year Old Poker Debt DATE: 4:42 AM ----- BODY: The son of Lal Haider, a Pakistani man, is demanding that a nearly two
decades old poker debt is paid. But there is a problem with what he claims
he is owed: 17-year old Rasheeda Umrani, as a bride. The women of Pakistan
have been infamously overlooked in terms of their rights. This case would
prove to be no different...
When Rasheeda was a one year-old, her father was a chronic gambler, who
during a poker game several years ago, offered his then infant daughter as a
bride when she grew up. This was to be "paid" in exchange for the debt that
he amassed during his jaunts. Rasheeda's mother, Nooran Umrani, whose
husband is now deceased, claims that a group of elders from a tribe in the
Baluchistan province approached her in January regarding the girl. They
explained to her that according to tribal traditions, Rasheeda was required
to marry Lal Haider's son, Abdul Ghani, who is 23. Nooran Umrani also claims
that although she had already satisfied her late husband's debt --- a mere
$165, the group of elders threatened harm to her if she did not surrender to
their request. Unfortunately for Nooran Umrani, and her daughter Rasheeda,
the laws in Pakistan have been such that women have few legal rights.
However, in this case Hyderabad police chief, Irfan Bhutto states that his
department is searching for the group of men, and investigating the matter
thoroughly. Authorities have claimed that they intend to arrest the men, who
make up a group of ten, including Haider and his son, Abdul. In December of
2006, President General Pervez Mushrraf passed a law that would make
prosecuting rape suspects easier in court. Furthermore, as part of his goal
to increase women's rights, his ruling party is attempting to prohibit
forced marriages---even those arranged under tribal customs in Pakistan.
Both families at the center of the dispute are part of the same [Umrani]
tribe in a highly poverty-stricken section of Pakistan. Currently, Nooran
and Rasheeda Umrani are in protective police custody until the men can be
apprehended and questioned. Chief of police, Irfan Bhutto insists that
"...the girl does not have to do anything against her will." A local
counselor who was sent to deal with the case has also mentioned that
Rasheeda's case was accepted last week at a tribal council meeting. --------