Sir: When will this country come out of the dark ages? According to recent news items, a man tried to set himself on fire after a jirga (tribal court) decided to marry his underage daughters off. This comes along with a Rs 1.2 million fine, also imposed on the man. No wonder he tried to kill himself — with such a severe punishment, in which his children are sentenced for a crime they did not even commit, anyone would feel hopeless enough. Are these not signs enough to diminish the menace of jirgas and other such tribal practices from our homeland? Is it not time we suck our people out of the vortex of suppression and patriarchy in which women are little better than cattle, to be sold and done with as pleased? I implore the authorities to take action. Enough is enough. SHERYAR ATIF Lahore