Sardar Ahmed Ali Khan Pitafi. PHOTO: FILE
SUKKUR: A jirga held in Ghotki on Sunday, to resolve a bloody dispute between Pitafi and Leghari tribesmen, imposed a fine of Rs7.91 million upon the Leghari tribesmen on charges of killing the nephew of Pakistan Peoples Party (PPP) MPA Sardar Ahmed Ali Pitafi during the 2008 general elections.
The jirga was held at the residence of Sardar Ahmed Ali Pitafi in Keenjhar, district Ghotki, and was jointly presided over by the Sardar, former PPP MNA Mian Abdul Haq alias Mian Mitho of Bharchoondi Sharif and MNA Sardar Avais Leghari. Apart from elders of both the tribes, a large number of tribesmen attended the jirga.
The jirga, after hearing the arguments of both the parties at length, engaged in a long discussion in a closed room, before announcing its verdict. According to the jirga, the Leghari tribesmen were found guilty of killing Shoaib Pitafi, injuring his men and causing damage to his vehicles, therefore the fine of Rs7.91 million was imposed upon them.
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Sources privy to the jirga claimed that the jirga observed that killing a family member of a Sardar is a great crime and therefore its fine will be seven times more than that of a common tribesman.
Normally jirgas fix a fine of Rs800,000 for killing an ordinary tribesman but, in this case, the amount was increased seven fold and Rs5.6 million was imposed for the murder. Besides this, Rs1.4 million was imposed for causing damage to the vehicles and Rs810,000 was added for injuring the 10 men.
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Sources claimed that both parties accepted the jirga’s verdict and the Leghari tribesmen paid Rs1 million on the spot as an advance, while the remaining amount will be paid in installments. It may be recalled that on the day of the general elections in 2008, Sardar Ahmed Ali Pitafi was contesting in PS-7 Ghotki, with Nadir Akmal Leghari as his opponent. Shoaib Pitafi, after receiving complaints of rigging at the Koro Khan Leghari polling station, rushed to the scene along with his men. As soon as he reached, armed men opened fire upon his vehicles, killing him and injuring his men.
Despite repeated attempts, The Express Tribune failed to contact former MNA Mian Abdul Haq alias Mian Mitho. Sardar Ahmed Ali Pitafi confirmed the reconciliation and said that the media should not worry about the amount of the fine. When asked why the fine imposed for the murder of his nephew was seven times more than normal, he refused to answer and said ‘none of your business’ before hanging up.
Published in The Express Tribune, July 28th, 2015.
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