Ghazala 9, being forced into childhood marriage, by father

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Written by: Jawad Mazhar (ROD)

Sargodha, Pakistan, March 16^th (ROD): ‘Rays of Development Organization’ (ROD) had to step in to foil the malicious act of the marriage of 9 (Nine) years old girl child Ghazala with Abid 15, at Faazal Town, Sargodha. New Satellite Town (NST) police took immediate action against Ijaz alias Babu, the father of the naïve child Ghazala, responsible for this sinister act, at the report of ROD.

ROD has learnt that Ijaz alias Baabu was getting married to the daughter of Mansoor Ahmed and in exchange he promised to give the hand of her innocent little daughter Ghazala 8 to Abid 15, the son of Mansoor Ahmed.

This heinous practice is called ‘Watta Satta’ (exchange) in Pakistan. It is deeply rooted into the society. According to the ‘Watta Satta’ custom girls are exchanged and tied into the wedlock between two families. Often this evil custom is carried out in a bid to settle down enmities or other disputes.

New Satellite Town police station has taken Bridegroom Abid 15, Ghazala’s grandmother Banno Bibi and Ijaz alias Baabu into custody and stopped the marriage ceremony. Participants of the matrimonial ceremony and parents of the bridegroom Abid successfully escaped. The court has handed over the guardianship of Ghazala over to her close kin Gulzar.

Chairman ROD, Mr Ferhan Mazher has condemned this heinous episode saying that ROD is doing its best to ensure the provision and protection of equal rights of women in the Pakistani Society. He further expressed his outrage by adding that woe on those men who think that a woman is their property or asset. ROD protested against this atrocity in front of Press Club Sargodha.

The rationalization of viciousness with a woman who is justified in front of the society.

Written by: KHADIJAH SHAH (RAYS OF DEVELOPMENT ORGANIZATION (ROD))

Sargodha, Pakistan (ROD): On the 2^nd June, 08, at 10:30 am, a meeting was held in the SP Investigating office Sargodha, to solve the dispute between the two parties. Waheeda Noureen, her neighborhood as well as the three criminals who violated her chastity were called. Rosy Dewan , Nadeem Samuel and Imran Mazher of the Rays of Development Organization, attended the meeting. Besides them was the Chairman of TANG Organization, Dr. Ahmad Khan. The Vice President Shameem Akhtar and Rukhsana Yaseen the President of Women Wing PPP Sargodha and the social worker Jameela were also side to side in these proceedings. They all tried to convince both the parties, especially the poor victim, to make the both ends meet in the presence of the media.

With the help of logic and argument, by measuring all the pros and cons of that incident, it was decided that those three men will apologize to the woman at the same spot where they tore her clothes and beat her down. They will return all her belongings which they snatched from her and will touch her feet in front of all with a promise that they will never ever dare to attempt such a devilish task again and will respect women as well as accept their highly regarded status in the society. As far as related to the consequence of that ASI Investigating Officer, Mohammad Luqman, it was enough insult that the case was taken from him.

On the same day at 6:30pm, in the evening, they all gathered on that spot and those three men apologized to Waheeda Noureen and she accepted it. An agreement was written on a stamp paper between Waheeda Noureen and the three criminals that criminals would never disturb her, they also returned her money snatched from her. Was that enough to satiate the tormented soul of that woman? Was she properly justified? How can she be justified if the criminals were just given another chance to reform themselves? She was not satisfied nor can she ever forget what happened to her. But there was no other remedy as adding fuel to fire might become the cause of a destructive result.

Report Recommended by:

Ferhan Mazher

(Chairman)

Rays of Development Organization

Street Theater ‘Who will protect the women rights’ by ROD

Women are an essential part and partial of the human society. We can not imagine a modern and civilized society without women, that’s the reason that every prophet, religion and eminent scholars have enlightened and pressed on the rights of Women. But we regret to say that through out the World generally and in Pakistan particularly, women are confronting several problems in their family, society, financially, at work place and educationally. They are facing these plights only because of them being ‘Women’, there is no else reason behind these quandaries.

Rays of Development Organization has taken up the challenge to spread awareness among the people at grass root level of the society, about the equal rights, respect and freedom of Women through education and street theater. So, that the women might be well familiar about their due rights and forge responsibility in the society to give proper equal rights to the female members.

In this regard Rays of Development, Organization staged a street theater at a secluded Village # 79 NB, Sargodha to impart awareness about the esteem, freedom and equal privileges of Women, under the title of ‘Who will protect the women rights’.

The volunteer actors of Rays of Development, Organization (ROD) performed with great dedication and mesmerized the 500 spectators from all walks of life, youth, elders, children, boys, girls and women. All the audience lauded the performance of actors/actresses, theme of the play and efforts of the ROD. The residents of this remote and undeveloped village extolled and pressed on the need of such Street Plays.

Outcome of the Street theater ‘Who will protect the women rights?’

After the Street Theater, activists of ROD visited and contacted the spectators and local residents of village 79NB, Sargodha via telephone, to get their opinion about the stage play and results or consequences of the Street Theater on the society.

Rays of Development, Organization is glad to share the following effects of the street drama, which point towards the positive changes being brought in the society regarding Women rights by ROD:

· People agreed upon that they would give as much importance to the Education of their Girl

Children as they do for the Education of their Boy Children.

· Residents of the village also said that they would pay proper attention and respect to the opinion of their girls, as they used to respect the opinion of their male children.

· They also said that the girls would be free to choose the food, dress, life style and field of Education after their hearts.

· Some people also agreed upon that they would not force their Girls in to wedlock.

· Girls would be free to choose their life partners as they like.

Chairman of ‘Rays of Development, Organization’ is happy

Chairman of ‘Rays of Development, Organization’ Ferhan Mazher and all the workers of ROD who took hands on part in this street theater are happy and proud to share with the WORLD that this little effort bore fruit and imparted message about the self-esteem, freedom and equivalent rights of Women in the society. Let’s all pledge to keep up this work in order to make this World free of Gender Based Violence. Where women can move about freely, feeling safe, without the risk of being sexually, physically or mentally assaulted and be able to manipulate their lives.