Post-merger: Tribesmen want issues resolved traditionally

Father of murder victim seeks tribal justice in Jirga; killer and his accomplice are under trial

PESHAWAR: Despite the fact that erstwhile tribal areas have been merged into Khyber-Pakhtunkhwa (K-P), tribesmen still want their issues resolved traditionally.

In one such case, father of a deceased requested upon elders of the area to send into exile the family of the killer.

“I want that the family of my son’s killer be exiled and all their share in land and property be transferred in the name of the deceased’s family,” was the way father of 26-year old student of software engineering sought revenge under the tribal customs.

“Anyone, who helps the killer’s family one way or the other, gives shelter within the area jurisdiction, will be responsible to whatever happens to him,” Abdul Rehman, the deceased’s father demanded of the Qaumi Jirga.

The Qaumi Jirga, comprising elders of Akhurwal area of the sub-division held a meeting on Friday and Saturday however the decision is still pending and the verdict is likely to be announced today (Sunday).

Although the incident took place in district Charsadda where the Khyber-Pakhtunkhwa (K-P) police finally successfully traced the killer and the facilitator concluding the case, father of the deceased is now waiting for a decision in accordance with the tribal customs.

According to reports, there was a dispute between two brothers Abdul Rehman and Dr Nadir Khan on share from income of the coal mines in Akhurwal area of the sub-division.

Talks were under way to resolve the matter, when Nadir Khan’s son Zahidur Rehman allegedly killed Abdul Rehman’s son Faizur Rehman last week in Charsadda.

Twenty six years old Faiz was a student of software engineering at Islamia College University Peshawar.

The killer, in connivance with the deceased’s friend Neelum, had called him to Charsadda where he was killed and the dead body was later thrown into the river.

The dead body was recovered and a case was registered against unknown people however after tracing the deceased’s mobile data, police finally found clues after the data revealed the deceased received as well as made calls to Neelum.

Police immediately took Neelum into custody and started interrogating her. Finally, upon interrogation, Neelum revealed how she and Zahid had planned to kill Faiz. Both are in the prison and the case is under trial.

Abdul Rehman however wants family members of his son’s killer should be exiled from Akhurwal areas.

In an open statement shared with Qaumi Jirga members on Friday, the deceased’s father stated that he met his son’s killer in the lockup where Zahid hugged him and was ashamed of what he did.

“He [the killer] hugged me for almost three minutes and requested me to kill him within the police station but I will never violate the law of the land,” the deceased’s father told the Jirga.

“Now, as the elders are well aware of the tribal customs and examples from the past, I want the elders to announce the killer’s family members be exiled,” the deceased’s father demanded and at the same time warned anyone who helped the family or gave them shelter within the area jurisdiction. 

Published in The Express Tribune, November 11^th, 2018.