LAHORE: The police do not plan to take immediate action against a man accused by his wife and kids of selling five daughters to settle gambling debts because an initial report found no wrongdoing, Okara Superintendent of Police (SP) Zafar Abbas Bukhari has said.
| "Sold his daughters, did he? Well, what's wrong with that?" |
SP Bukhari told reporters that police in Okara had visited Chak GD 20 and found no incriminating evidence against Allah Ditta, whose wife Bashiran left him after he allegedly tried to sell his fifth daughter, Sakina, to an elderly cousin for less than Rs 100,000.
"Youse got any daughters here?"
"Nope."
"Oh, well. You can go. There ain't no evidence." |
Mr Bukhari said an initial inquiry had been conducted on directions from the Chief Ministerâs Secretariat and senior police officials. âThe police went to Chak GD 20 and visited the areas and found nothing against Mr Allah Ditta,â he said.
| "Nope. Not a daughter in sight. It was uncanny!" |
Asked is there would be an independent inquiry, he said first he would rely on his station house officerâs report. âA separate inquiry committee may be set up if the CMâs Secretariat or senior officials ask for it or express dissatisfaction at the initial investigation,â he said. âThat inquiry could be conducted through a high ranking officer like a deputy superintendent of police.â
| "Yasss... We're preparing the paperwork now..." |
Meanwhile, Allah Dittaâs family, residents of Chak 20 GD and human rights activists reiterated their call for an independent inquiry. They said the preliminary inquiry did not include statements from the family because they had moved away from the village in fear of Allah Ditta. They demanded a senior police official call the family and get their statements. They said they did not expect an immediate conviction, just that the familyâs point of view would be noted. Bashiran has filed for divorce, saying Allah Ditta was a compulsive gambler who had sold four daughters less than 15 years old to men in their 40s.
| "Heh heh! Young stuff! I like young stuff!" |
Sakina has lodged a private complaint with the Depalpur special judicial magistrate against her fatherâs attempt to sell her. He allegedly sold his first daughter, Kausar, to the same elderly cousin, Akhtar. She died two and a half months after the marriage. Allah Ditta has reportedly sold three other underage daughters. Bashiran and Sakina have taken refuge with one of those daughters, Ishram, and her husband Mumtaz in Depalpur. According to Bashiran, Allah Ditta sold Ashraf alias Ishran to Muhammad Mumtaz for Rs 80,000 when she was 11 and he was in his 40s. Bashiran also worries what Allah Ditta will do to their youngest daughter Maskeena, 7. |