Re: First Pakistani Gay Marriage in NWFP
Was the story a fake? this is an area where indendent proof is hard to come by after all?
http://dailytimes.com.pk/default.asp?page=story_7-10-2005_pg7_39
Tribesmen slam gay marriage reports
PESHAWAR: The people of tribal area Teerah have angrily reacted to news reports about a gay marriage in the Nangroosa locality of Teerah tribal region.
The boy, belonging to the Markin tribe, who has figured in reports stating that he was married to a 42-year Afghan refugee, condemned the reports as shameful and said he will take legal action.
Dr Kalat, a local resident, who works as a physician in the tribal area, told reporters that he attended a jirga, led by Amir Namdar where this report was discussed. The boy told the jirga that if this shameful act was proven against him, he would agree to be executed. The boy said that he developed differences with his employer who exported timber to Afghanistan. He said that he used to supply jungle wood on donkeys and bring merchandise from Afghanistan. He said after developing differences with his former boss, he started working with Afghan refugee Barkat Ali’s group. He said his opponents started a baseless propaganda against him after he joined another group.
Dr Kalat confirmed that no ceremony of marriage such as singing and ‘Walima’ were held. He said the people of the area have decided to take legal action against the newspaper which published this shameful story. He said the Pathans of Teerah have great regard for their honour and prestige and they could not even imagine a member of their tribe committing such a shameful act.
He also said that the Amir of Jirga Namdar called another Jirga on Thursday at Tarkhos Spin Darand on this issue. He asked the newspaper to verify the report before publishing it as a baseless story can cause great damage to someone’s reputation. He said Teerah was a remote area and added that the publication of such reports without verification was extremely regrettable. nni