Plight of a girl seeking her share in family property

Mon, May 11, 2020

TOBA TEK SINGH: The problems in young Iqra Perveen’s life multiplied when she sought her share in inheritance from her father and brothers – often ‘unthinkable’ in rural areas. Now, she not only battles for property, but also her life.

Her father and brothers had declared under oath on a stamp paper that she will get her share, but were now planning to sell their farmland, violating their promise and agreement.

If the property dispute was allegedly life threatening, Iqra was already a ‘victim’ of an exchange marriage (watta satta) and her husband divorced her a few days ago allegedly on the request of one of her brothers whose wife was her husband’s sister – although they had only had a nikah and her rukhsati had yet to take place.

Demanding that her brother also divorce his wife, Iqra, 20, took an extreme step on Wednesday, climbed up a 35-foot water tank in her village Chak 347-GB in Chuttiana with a bottle of petrol and matches and threatened to self-immolate if he did not do so in revenge from her husband.

Her brothers followed and tortured her atop the tank in front of the entire village for bringing dishonour to the family.

Chuttiana police told the media that Iqra Perveen was married to a youth, who was also the brother-in-law of her brother under watta satta. A few days ago, her husband divorced her.

This infuriated her, and she demanded her brother divorce his wife immediately to take revenge from her husband. But when the family paid no heed to her, she climbed up the water tank.

Later, police and Rescue 1122 were called and the village elders convinced her not to take her life. She agreed that until her brother divorced his wife, she would live with her uncle.

Meanwhile, one of Iqra’s uncles, Abdul Rashid, submitted an application with the police, claiming that his niece’s life was in danger, as her brothers and father could kill her for honour. He claimed that she had been tortured previously also and remained in hospital.

He demanded registration of a case against her brothers and father who publicly tortured her. He contended that police by handing her over to her family, endangered her life.

Rashid told police an agreement had been signed on a stamp paper by her brothers and father that they will not sell their farmland till she was given her share. But they violated the agreement and were going to sell the land over which she took the extreme step. He demanded Iqra be recovered from her parents to save her life.

Police said they are investigating.

Published in Dawn, May 7th, 2020

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