Vani

Origins and rationale

The practice traces back nearly four centuries to a conflict between Pashtun tribes. A regional ruler convened a council of elders to stop a bloody war. The elders established that disputes involving men could be settled by giving their female relatives to the aggrieved party. This concept aligns with the sharia principle of Qisas, which focuses on retaliatory punishment. Tribal councils continue to use this method to address crimes such as murder.

How it operates

A jirga, or council of tribal elders, decides the fate of the families involved. They determine if a girl must be handed over to settle a crime. These girls are often minors ranging from three to sixteen years old. In some instances, families may pay money called Deet to avoid this outcome. However, when the payment fails, the girls are married off to members of the opposing group, sometimes including elderly men.

Legal status and harm

The Pakistani government has declared Vani illegal through various laws and constitutional provisions. Courts have also outlawed parallel justice systems. Despite these legal frameworks, the practice persists in rural areas where local authorities often ignore the law. Activists note that the girls face systematic abuse and virtual slavery. The murderers often escape punishment while the young girls suffer for generations.

How Vani is kept

Tribal elders convene a jirga to judge a dispute. If a man commits a crime like murder, the council orders his female relatives to be given to the victim's family. Girls aged four to fourteen are frequently selected. The transfer happens without consent. Families may attempt to pay a fine instead, but the girls are often still handed over to settle the feud permanently.

When and where

It occurs whenever a tribal council decides a blood feud needs resolution. There is no fixed season or calendar date for the event.

The custom is found across Pakistan, particularly in Punjab, Sindh, Baluchistan, and Khyber Pakhtunkhwa. A similar practice exists in Afghanistan.

What Vani means

The practice represents a transaction of blood for blood. It views young women as property that can balance the scales of justice. The transfer aims to keep peace between tribes by satisfying the need for retribution.

Who takes part

• Jirga elders: Decide which girls must be handed over to settle the dispute
• The girls: Are given as wives or servants to the opposing clan
• The murderer: Often escapes punishment while paying the price through others

Then and now

Laws prohibit the practice, yet it continues due to weak government control in rural regions. Reports indicate that jirgas still attempt to enforce these rulings despite police intervention.

Questions people ask about Vani

See also

DowryA payment of wealth from the bride's family to the groom or his household at marriage.Nikah halalaA second marriage required for a woman to remarry her first husband after triple talaq.Watta sattaA reciprocal marriage arrangement where two families swap brides to bind households and manage domestic tensions.Arranged marriage in the Indian subcontinentThe family-led matchmaking process that shapes most marriages across South Asia.

Good reading and sources

• Documentaries make social change happenDawn, Article
• 15 child brides used to settle Pakistan feudThe Guardian, Article
• BBC NEWS | South AsiaBBC, Article
• Documentaries make social change happenDawn, Article
• 15 child brides used to settle Pakistan feudThe Guardian, Article
• BBC NEWS | South AsiaBBC, Article

• Vani (custom) on WikipediaEncyclopedia
• Wikidata recordOpen data

It may contain mistakes. Wedding customs differ from one family, village and community to the next, and the people who keep them know them best. If something is wrong, tell us. Last refreshed 2026-10-05.