DRC settled 7,179 disputes last year

1,465 cases referred to relevant legal forums

PESHAWAR: The Dispute Resolution Council (DRC) has settled 7,179 petty disputes during the last year and referred 1,465 cases to other relevant forums for legal action.

The DRC was established in Peshawar in 2014 to bring about change in the thana culture and ensure that petty public disputes are settled promptly. As the council was widely successful, the need arose to replicate it in other parts of Khyber-Pakhtunkha.

Hence these councils were established in all districts and they have been accommodating many people and resolving their issues. Cricketer Yasir Shah, who belongs to Swabi, has also joined DRC as a volunteer and promised to help people settle matters in the most civilised way possible.

The main reason to make such a body was to ensure swift and free justice for the people. DRC not only comes up with amicable solutions to disputes but also functions as a fact finding body and a jury in the case of contested investigations.

During the last year 10,386 cases were received by the DRCs, out of which 7,179 were resolved and 1,465 were referred to relevant legal forums while 1,742 cases are still being worked upon.

City-wise data shows that DRCs resolved 1,308 cases in Peshawar, 561 in Mardan, 235 in Nowshera, 251 in Charsadda, 1,133 in Swabi, 778 in Kohat, 301 in Karak, 659 in Hangu, 224 in Lakki, 16 in Tank, 261 in Swat, 150 in Buner, 73 in Upper Dir, 148 in Dir Lower, 421 in Chitral, 40 in Shangla, 18 in Torghar, three in Kohistan, 107 in Abbottabad, 127 in Mansehra, 24 in Battagram, 199 in Bannu and 142 in DI Khan. Each district has at least one functioning DRC while there are two in Peshawar, four in Mardan, three in Charsadda, four in Nowshera, four in Swabi and four in Swat.