The much-awaited drama, Sang e Mah received an overwhelming response since its first episode was released- all due to the star cast, great direction, and a well-written story. The drama has stirred discussions on various platforms and continues to be viewed by millions of viewers. Written by Mustafa Afridi, Sang e Mah touches on the sensitive concept of ‘Ghag’ that dates back to the pre-Islamic era and is still prevalent in some tribal belts of Pakistan, mostly in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa.
Still much is left to unveil about Ghag in the drama, which we are expecting that the makers will do progressively and sensitively. Many are alien to this tradition due to the lack of information available on the internet and limited media coverage. It is essential to be aware of such regressive customs that still exist in our society so that we can take the first step to eliminate them.
What is Ghag?
Ghag is a disturbing and off-putting concept that still continues to be practiced in the tribal areas of Pakistan and Afghanistan.
The word ghag actually means to make something known. In this custom, any man who wishes to marry a girl can announce his wish whenever and wherever he wants without the consent of the girl or her relatives. This automatically means that the girl is betrothed to that man no matter their age gap or any other factors. No other man can then ask for that girl’s hand in marriage and in case anyone does, it makes the two rivals and can sometimes even lead to bloodshed.
The announcement can be made in various ways. At times a person can be sent to deliver the message that a man has chosen to marry the girl of a particular household. While on the other hand, gunshots are fired outside the girl’s house and the name of the girl is announced with whom the man wants to marry.
Why is Ghag announced?
There are ample reasons why a man may decide to do ghag. One being obvious would be where a man is infatuated with a woman and wants to marry her. He might not be able to do so due to rejection from the girl or her family. Regardless of the reason, a man can make an announcement through ghag which makes the girl engaged to him.
According to a report published in 2014, titled ‘ Honor Crimes in Pakistan. Unveiling Reality and Perception,’ by the Islamabad-based Community Appraisal and Motivation Programme (CAMP), Ghag is being practiced in Pakhtun-dominated areas.
Through this custom, males (particularly paternal cousins) have a birth right to marry their female cousins, even if their match is incompatible, the report states. There are many cases of women being forced to marry men from their family who are criminals or suffering from a mental or physical disability under this custom.
Source: GEO TV
Ghag can also be a way of taking revenge where a man decides to marry a girl to hurt her family. This can be due to property, business, political or domestic issues. For instance, a man named Pio Muhammad had ghag announced on his daughters by his nephew because Pio’s brother divorced their mother.
It can also be merely because of a man’s ego where he feels ’empowered’ enough to forcefully tie a woman with himself. Or perhaps when a girl is born, the elders engage her with a boy no matter what the age gap just to avoid the girl from marrying outside the family.
Repercussions
Needless to say, ghag practically destroys a woman’s life. She cannot marry by her own free will while the man is free to choose to marry the girl he announced ghag on or can marry any other woman he wants and can have children with them.
Some of the women are forced to marry against their will and live the rest of their lives with a man they did not choose to marry. On the other hand, some men never marry the women they announce ghag on and they remain unmarried forever. Women are forced to live with their parents, if they remain unmarried, while their siblings and friends continue with their lives. For them, time comes to a halt.
A woman who had ghag announced on her revealed : Life was a bit good while my parents were alive, but after their death, it has become a burden. My brothers have settled in and their wives keep on accusing that they have enmity because of us.
Source: TNN
Even if a woman gets married, it is not necessary that the marriage will be a happy one. There is no guarantee of her physical and financial security.
In extreme cases, women find no alternative but to take their own lives. According to official reports, since the start of 2016 around 20 women have reportedly committed suicide because of ghag.
Real life stories
Despite the cases of ghag being significantly decreased in the past, it unfortunately still hasn’t been completely eliminated and many girls continue to suffer because of this practice.
The most recent example, according to THE NEWS, is of a case reported in Raghzai area of South Waziristan located near the Pak-Afghan border on the 15th of January 2021. Zainab, the girl on whom ghag was announced, said that on 12th January a man Khan Mohammad came to their house and threatened them with dire consequences by declaring his intent to marry Zainab.
Zainab did not hold back and reported him to the police. SHO Raghzai Police Station, Habibul Islam then arrested the man involved in a Ghag case three days after the incident.
However, many are neither as brave nor as fortunate as Zainab to be able to obtain justice. According to Geo News, a woman named Asma Rani, a third-year medical student was shot dead in Kohat for turning down a marriage proposal. The man, Mujahid Afridi, whom she named her killer, wanted to marry Rani without her consent. When she refused, he shot her.
Government Role and Laws Passed To Prevent Ghag
Eradicating customs from the core can take years and demand a strict course of action be adopted. In 2012, the Khyber Pakhtunkhwa government passed the Elimination of Custom of Ghag Bill to declare the practice a criminal offense which is punishable with up to seven years imprisonment. The bill was tabled by Provincial Minister for Social Welfare and Women Development, Sitara Ayaz.
However, there is no evidence of anyone being convicted under this legislation as of yet.
Even when legislation is present for the victims, many women find it hard to fight against a patriarchal society and the feudal lords. Many, on the other hand, are unaware of the existence of such laws.
Women, who are victims of Ghag, also do not seek out law enforcement’s help due to a lack of awareness, explains Mohammad Ali Babakhel, a senior police official in the province.
The media here has failed to create an awareness of the legal instruments that are available to women and that can help redress their grievances, he added. Majority of women from rural areas are not aware of their rights and do not know how to seek police help.
Source: GEO TV
The custom and the whole notion of ghag is quite gut-wrenching and distressing. It is a curse that has afflicted our society and one for which we have not been able to find a cure. Kudos to the whole team of Sang e Mah for bringing such a sensitive topic to light, for the first step to eradicate any evil is to bring it to light and make people acknowledge it.
We hope that simultaneously, strict legal actions are taken against any reported crimes of ghag and the perpetrators are punished to set an example for others. In a true sense, the eradication of evils like ghag requires a team effort- from the people and the lawmakers and it is only then that we can hope for a change.
