Bajaur admin shrugs off jirga ban on women
The district administration of Bajaur tribal district has decided to create an enclosed and ‘properly cordoned off’ space for women at Raghagan Dam after a Jamiat Uelma-e-Islam Fazl (JUI-F)-led Jirga announced a ban on women at the picnic spots across the district.
The administration has made it clear that there is no ban on women’s movement in the district nor any private group or party would be allowed to announce such a decision. Reports say that a musical program was held at a local place near the dam which was termed vulgar by a group of local elders and Tehsil Chairman Khar Said Bacha and others held a press conference against it on July 13.
“On July 15 a local Jirga was held at Danqool Salarzai in which local elders ‘demanded a ban on women in all tourist destinations in Bajaur, including Raghagan Dam,” said an official while talking to The Express Tribune.
He said that no one would be allowed to take law into his own hands.
On the other hand, the decision has sparked widespread protests and criticism on social media.
Local residents especially youngsters have been criticizing the tribal elders, calling them “old school and selfish” who are trying to impose their Taliban-inspired ideologies on others in the name of religion and traditions.
“As per the local traditions and tribal culture women have no inheritance right in the area. No member or elder of Jamiat Uelma-e-Islam Fazl (JUI-F) has ever called a Jirga to solve this problem,” said Shahid Ali Khan, a local resident of Khar, adding that the religious parties are only active to impose restrictions on women.
“There are a lot many problems in the area. Clean drinking water is not available. Electricity is an issue. There are no schools for girls and health units are few and far between. Still these elders think that the presence of women in the picnic spots is an issue,” said another local Jawad Iqbal Salarzai.
When contacted Assistant Commissioner Khar, Hamza Zahoor said that there does not exist any ban on movement of women or families to picnic spots or tourist destinations anywhere in Bajaur. “All tourist spots are open to all and sundry. No private individuals or non-state outfits are allowed to interfere in this freedom.
However, in view of the cultural sensitivities involved on account of Bajaur being a religiously conservative society, further measures will be taken to ensure that local sensitivities are respected,” he said.
“The said dam has separate space for families which lies far away from general space open to youngsters and male visitors.
Further measures will be taken to ensure that the female quarter is properly cordoned off and utmost parda is ensured,” he said.
There doesn’t exist any district-wide popular consensus prohibiting the movement of women, nor would such demands accommodated or tolerated, added the AC.
Published in The Express Tribune, July 18th, 2022.