ISLAMABAD -- Pakistan’s Federal Shariat Court (FSC) on Tuesday declared ‘un-Islamic’ the tradition of Swara, a practice in which girls, often minors, are given in marriage or servitude to an aggrieved family as compensation to end disputes, local media reported.
A three-judge bench headed by FSC Chief Justice Noor Mohammad Meskenzai said the tradition of giving away minor girls to settle disputes was against the injunctions of Islam.
The petitioner, a woman called Sakeena Bibi, said swara, often the result of punishment decided by a council of tribal elders called a jirga or panchayat, usurped the fundamental rights of a woman or young girl.
“It argued that jirga or panchayat misconstrued the concept ‘badl-i-sulah’ — compensation to settle a dispute by offering a young girl to the aggrieved family.
The petitioner requested the court to declare this custom as illegal,” it was reported.
Dr. Mohammad Aslam Khaki, a jurist consult at the FSC, said swara violated at least four fundamental rights.
“According to him, since the girl is offered by the accused family, she in most of the cases is deprived of even basic facilities, hence subjected to discrimination. Secondly, she is wedded to a man without her consent. Thirdly, she is not entitled to dowry, and fourthly, she cannot file legal suit for khula — dissolution of marriage,” Khaki said.
Though laws in 2005 and 2011 have declared swara illegal, the custom still continues to be practiced in many parts of Pakistan.
In 2004, the Sindh High Court outlawed all such “parallel justice” systems. But the writ of government is weak in rural areas of the country, and local police often turn a blind eye.
Pakistani rupee remains unchanges against US dollar in the open market on March 18, 2024, Monday.
In the open market, the US dollar was being quoted at 278.7 for buying and 281.65 for selling.
Euro moves down to 303 for buying and 306 for selling while British Pound hovers around 356 for buying, and 359 for selling.
UAE Dirham AED remains stable at 75.8 whereas the Saudi Riyal saw minor increase, with new rates at 74.05.
Currency | Symbol | Buying | Selling |
---|---|---|---|
US Dollar | USD | 278.7 | 281.65 |
Euro | EUR | 303 | 306 |
UK Pound Sterling | GBP | 356 | 359 |
U.A.E Dirham | AED | 75.8 | 76.55 |
Saudi Riyal | SAR | 74.05 | 74.5 |
Australian Dollar | AUD | 182.7 | 184.5 |
Bahrain Dinar | BHD | 741.89 | 749.89 |
Canadian Dollar | CAD | 204 | 206.2 |
China Yuan | CNY | 38.78 | 39.18 |
Danish Krone | DKK | 40.92 | 41.32 |
Hong Kong Dollar | HKD | 35.69 | 36.04 |
Indian Rupee | INR | 3.37 | 3.48 |
Japanese Yen | JPY | 1.86 | 1.94 |
Kuwaiti Dinar | KWD | 908.8 | 917.8 |
Malaysian Ringgit | MYR | 59.59 | 60.19 |
New Zealand Dollar | NZD | 171.07 | 173.07 |
Norwegians Krone | NOK | 26.67 | 26.97 |
Omani Riyal | OMR | 724.62 | 732.62 |
Qatari Riyal | QAR | 76.7 | 77.4 |
Singapore Dollar | SGD | 206 | 208 |
Swedish Korona | SEK | 27.27 | 27.57 |
Swiss Franc | CHF | 315.8 | 318.3 |
Thai Bhat | THB | 7.79 | 7.94 |
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