Pak 'rapist' father pawns 9-yr-old daughter to settle dispute

A Pakistani farmer has been arrested for agreeing to a village council's order to hand over his nine-year-old daughter as 'compensation' for settlement in a rape case.

Local police officer Mohammad Khalid said that a group of elders in a remote rural area in Pakistan's Punjab province ended a year-long dispute between a farmer and a local landowner through the illegal agreement.

The police have arrested five more persons related to the case. The farmer, Arshad, was accused of abducting and raping the daughter of landowner Ali Sher, Khalid said.

"The jury decreed that Arshad would marry (off) his daughter Sidra to Ali Sher's 22-year old son Maqsood. Arshad agreed verbally but Sidra, who is too young, remains with her family," Khalid said.

Giving daughters away as compensation to end vendettas, known as 'Vani' in Pakistan, is illegal and punishable by up to seven years in jail.u00a0