Pakistani asked for 'bride' money

By Zulfikar Ali
BBC correspondent in Muzaffarabad

In a rare precedent, village elders in Pakistan-administered Kashmir have ordered the family of a young man to pay 800,000 Pakistani rupees ($13,605) to the family of his wife.

Pakistani rural weddings are typically 'arranged'

The man married a girl of his choice - as opposed to an arranged marriage - and the money is meant to compensate the girl's family.

He was also ordered to give the hand of one of his sisters in marriage to a relative of his bride.

Village elders have asked the family of the boy for their decision to be implemented by 20 September.

Human rights groups have expressed concern over the decision announced by the local village council.

They allege that the boy's family members are being held as hostages on the orders of village elders to ensure the implementation of their decision.

They say 26-year-old Mohammad Reeyaz married Saiqa Rehman , 22, out of love.

The pair wed in the town of Rawalakote on Monday.

Hiding

Both bride and groom belong to the Sudhan tribe in a remote village in the southern part of Rawalakote district, some 150 km (93 miles) from the capital of Pakistani-administered Kashmir, Muzaffarabad.

Soon after the marriage, the couple went underground to avoid any backlash from the local community.

In their absence, village elders ordered the family of Reeyaz to pay the money as compensation to Saima's family.

In addition, one of the groom's sisters was ordered to marry a brother of the bride.

The local East and West human rights group has asked the government of Pakistan-administered Kashmir to ensure the safety of the couple who remain in hiding.

They have also called for the safe release of the groom's family members and a court order to stop the implementation of the village elders' decision.

The government of Pakistan-administered Kashmir has not commented on the incident.