Music returns to weddings in Darra Adam Khel

Dances, jirga system banned since 2007 renewed

PESHAWAR: Life is slowly returning back to normal in Darra Adam Khel after it was badly hit by militancy in 2007. As the reign of the Taliban has come to an end, music also can once again be heard at wedding festivities and the jirga system has been restored in the area.

“In the past we could not imagine playing music inside our houses at weddings,” a resident of Akhorwal village in Darra Adam Khel Muhammad Yousuf told The Express Tribune. “Taliban would normally storm into the house if music played, beat residents and take away music amplifiers.” He added, “Now much has changed in the area as people bring DJs from Peshawar without any fear now.”





Yousaf said Taliban had banned women from going with wedding precessions and had also forbidden playing music and inviting people who were transgender to dance at the occasion.

Return of jirga

The traditional jirga system which was replaced by Taliban panels in Darra Adam Khel has also been restored. “The militants were very strict with rich people and extorted money from them on one pretext or the other, however, for poor residents of Darra Adam Khel, their justice was very quick and effective,” an elder Suliman an elder told The Express Tribune.



Time to rebuild

“Militancy in the area killed dozens of people and caused losses of billions of rupees,” Suliman said. He highlighted the military operation in the area destroyed the arms manufacturing sector. As a result thousands of people were left without a job. Suliman added, “Nonetheless, people now are overjoyed and  relaxed as they are free to practise centuries-old tradition of musical evenings and jirga system.”  

Published in The Express Tribune, September 2^nd, 2016.