Girl Traded in PokerGame

[Harkoliar]

Geez...

A teenage girl in southern Pakistan, whose late father lost her in a poker game when she was two years old, has asked authorities to save her from being handed over to a middle-aged relative. - Rasheeda, 17, said she has filed applications with the police and a local councillor asking them to prevent Lal Haider, 45, from taking her to his home. - Her mother, Nooran said her husband racked up a debt of 10,000 rupees ($190) to Haider playing cards. - "My husband didn't have money to pay, and instead he told Lal Haider that he could take Rasheeda when she grows up," she said. - Despite being paid his money last year, she said Haider still insisted the girl should be given to him because of tribal customs. - While both families live in Hyderabad, a city 160 kilometres north of the southern city of Karachi, they belong to the same tribe in Baluchistan province. - The girl's uncle, Dur Mohammad said Haider apparently wanted to marry the girl to his son. - Khalid Rajput, a local councillor dealing with the case, said the decision that Rasheeda should be handed over to Haider was taken late last week at a tribal council meeting. - "We know some tribal elders from Baluchistan came for the meeting in which the girl's family was told to give her as per their customs," he said. - Irfan Bhutto, a police officer in Hyderabad, said Haider had been summoned. "We will ensure the girl does not have to do anything against her will."

link: http://www.smh.com.au/news/unusual-t...338551105.html

Scary

[Illumina Drathiran'ar]

Over that much? Goodness, I'll pay it myself, if they want. Utterly ridiculous, and a lovely reminder as to how people are treated in places not so lovely as ours.

[Bungleau]

You missed that he's already been paid, my dear... he just wants her anyway.

Truly a reminder that the whole world is not Grover's Corners...

[Memnoch]

Truly moronic stuff, this.

[Black Baron]

Well we do see some progress. 200 years ago the girl would have been 14 years old. Now she is 17 and is aware of some basic rights.

Always look at the 1/10 glass that is full. [img]tongue.gif[/img]

[Bungleau]

In a startling turn of events, local police are now seeking ten men involved in trying to force this girl to be given up. The man who originally won the bet, his son, and eight others. The girl and her mother are under police protection.

Details here...

That indeed is Progress... may the president live long enough to see it succeed.

*edit* BTW, 200 years ago most 18 year olds were considered spinsters if they hadn't married already... we certainly have progressed forward.

[ 02-27-2007, 10:44 AM: Message edited by: Bungleau ]