A news has come from Pakistan which shakes the heart. An innocent 4-year-old girl was married to her 60-year-old grandfather. This is not a story, but a reality, which brings out the dark truth of the centuries-old evil practices there. Cruel traditions like 'Wani' and 'Swara' are still making the lives of girls hell. How are these customs alive even in the era of modernity, and why are innocent daughters paying the price for it? Let's find out.

'Vani' and 'Swara': A tradition of cruelty

In remote areas of Pakistan's Punjab and Khyber Pakhtunkhwa, practices called 'wani' and 'swara' are still going on. 'Wani' means 'blood', and it starts when there is a fight or bloodshed between two tribes. To end the dispute, one party hands over its daughter to the other party. In this, the girl can be between 4 to 14 years of age, and the man can be between 25 to 60 years of age. This tradition is an excuse to end the enmity, but in reality it destroys the lives of innocent people.

Daughters became the means of reconciliation

In these areas, girls are used as compensation. After murder, debt or any crime, a family gives its daughter to the other party for settlement. The consent of the girl or her young age is not given any importance. In the latest case, a clan married a 4-year-old innocent girl to her 60-year-old grandfather to settle an old dispute. This incident raises questions on humanity and exposes the ugly face of society.

400 years old dark history

It is said that 'Wani' started about 400 years ago from a bloody conflict between the Pashtun tribes of Mianwali. Then it was considered a path of peace, but today it has become a weapon to take away the lives of innocent people. Times have changed, but some communities are still carrying on this cruel tradition. This is not only a violation of human rights, but also a conspiracy to crush the childhood of an innocent girl.

Efforts continue, but why failure?

The Pakistani government and human rights organizations are trying to eradicate this evil practice. Laws have been made, awareness campaigns have been launched, but the change on the ground is very slow. In many tribes, this is considered a method of justice, and people are not ready to give it up. The question arises that how long will daughters continue to be made a commodity in this way?

A sad story of an innocent

This latest incident has shocked everyone. A 4-year-old girl, who is still of playing age, was married off to her own grandfather. This decision was taken to end an old dispute. It is a matter of thought whether the lives of daughters are so cheap that they should be sacrificed for disputes? This incident demands an answer from the society.

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