Ghagh Tribal Ritual, the Four Air fires, and Female Marriage Binding
Ghagh Tribal Ritual Pakistani province of Khyber Pakhtunkhwa, a legally prohibited tribal ritual called Ghagh is still practiced, in which a boy who fires four firecrackers outside a girl’s house becomes a claimant to marry that girl. The most painful aspect of this ritual is that when a boy fires four shots outside a girl’s house while performing the Ghagh, no other man can marry that girl. In all this matter, the girl’s wishes regarding marriage are not given any importance. According to this tribal custom, when a man of a family, such a symbol of his candidacy for marriage with a girl belonging to another family. declare, then that girl becomes bound to marry the same man of the same family.
Punishment and Penalty
The Khyber Pakhtunkhwa Provincial Assembly in Peshawar passed a law in January 2013, under which anyone found guilty of murder can be sentenced to three years in prison and a fine of up to five lakh rupees. Despite the existence of this law, instances of Ghagh are still seen in most of the districts of Khyber Pakhtunkhwa with tribal customs.
Forced marriage is not allow
One such example is that of a girl from one of the tribal areas formerly known as FATA, who rebelled against her family’s intentions to marry her off and left her tribal area with her brother. The capital of Pakistan was move to Islamabad. The girl refused to allow the publication of the details of her real name and which tribal region of Pakistan she belongs to because of threats to her and her brother’s life.
I am not a sheep
Pari (pseudonym) said in an interview with DW that she has since move to Islamabad with her brother. He has file a case in court, which is still being hear intermittently, but which has not yield any results for the past three years. According to Pari, “I don’t approve of such a forced marriage, neither do I like the boy nor his family. There are many reasons for my rejection of this relationship, chief among which is that he has defamed me throughout our area by making dirty and false accusations of adultery against me. My whole family is worry.”
Anti-woman customs
Inhumane practices and behaviors abound in Pakistani tribal regions, he told DW. For example, girls also sale as slaves. Then the girls between the ages of 11 and 12 are married off to men of 45 to 50 years of age and these girls not even ask. Most facilities including good education are available only to men. Girls and women is only subjugate. Now most people are conscious and arrange their marriages with the consent of their girls after giving them good education. Today, the situation is much better than in the past, but such incidents have not completely ended.
This is Blatant Bullying
Usman Qazi, a well-known sociologist from Quetta working for a UN subsidiary, told DW that the criminal ritual of Ghagh is essentially open-end misogyny. According to him, this tradition was find not only in tribal areas but also in Punjab long ago. But now it is more concentrate in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa. He said that in order to avoid these outdated traditions, there is an urgent need to strengthen the supremacy of law and enforcement.
A Heinous Crime
According to Usman Qazi, “Ghagh” is a very heinous crime. Legislation has enact to remedy this. But there is a need to improve the enforcement of this law and punish. The offenders more severely. There should safe havens in the country for the victimize girls who have such incidents and whose parents are unable to ensure their safety and security. Some government institutions are working to achieve this goal, the foremost of which is Darul Aman, but even in such institutions, the safety of girls and women has question after incidents of harassment. In my opinion, non-governmental organizations can play a very important role in this sector.
The Law is not being Implement
Rabia Hadi said, “When such a crime is commit. First of all, the case is not register and no FIR is written. Even if it happens, the parties are not willing to accept the decision. Even after the court decision is deliver. They try to harm each other physically and financially. I have seen only one such case so far, where a formal FIR was register and the matter reached the court. Otherwise, all this is a part of tribal traditions. The tribals take their decisions in Jirgas and do not follow any law.
It is a Matter of Concern to have this Tradition in this Century
Haris Khaliq, the Secretary General of the Human Rights Commission of Pakistan (HRCP). Said while talking to Deutsche Welle, that even in the 21st century. Ghagh is a serious problem in Pakistan’s tribal areas. It is very alarming to receive reports of such criminal incidents. Haris Khaliq said that no separate research has done about Ghagh. In Pakistan for some time, but this issue is under the eyes of HRCP. And the Human Rights Commission of Pakistan strongly condemns. Such illegal criminal and inhumane actions.
He told DW, “The Human Rights Commission of Pakistan. Has a clear stand that such outdate and criminal traditions have no place in any civilize society.” Therefore, we will soon present our proposals. And demands for practical measures after regular research regarding Ghagh.