A 19-year-old girl identified as Naveeda was told to undergo an abortion and her 25-year-old husband Attaullah Abro was asked to pay Rs550,000 by a jirga. As part of the settlement, Abro was also asked to divorce his pregnant wife.
The jirga was held in Hoti village near Madeji on Wednesday and was led by Azhar Ali Kamariyo, a landlord. Sources claim that the jirga was organised to settle a marital dispute between two groups of the Abro tribe. They said that Naveeda and Attaullah had run away from home to get married 10 months ago against the will of their parents. Sources added that their marriage had caused a lot of problems within the tribe. To settle the issue, Naveeda’s father Hazoor Bux Abro asked tribal elders to do something to get her back.
After both sides of the case were presented before the jirga, it was decided that Naveeda and Attuallah were guilty. He was then forced by his parents and tribal elders to leave his wife.
Kamariyo’s older brother Sardar Himat Ali told The Express Tribune that he had heard about the jirga and the verdict. “I called my brother immediately. He told me that nothing of the sort had happened. There was no jirga, divorce or abortion,” he said. The head constable of the Sharif Kharoos police station was not available to comment. The Chali Kalwari police station DSP said that they would register a case if there was proof that the jirga had taken place.
The Sindh High Court Sukkur bar association former general secretary Shabbir Shar said that he would file a petition against the jirga’s decision on Thursday (today).
Published in The Express Tribune, November 3rd, 2011.
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Another case of the govt missing in action. What right does anyone have to tell two happily married adults who that they have to execute their unborn child and divorce. If the parents or tribe don't like the situation - then tough. Time for Pakistan to join the 21 century.
normal day in pakistan
BTW, Jirga justice is part of Imran Khan's grand scheme for Pakistan. God Save Pakistan!!!
Jirga is a very good system if allowed to flourish and guided toward development of the society. I have never heard of the jirga which asked for killing of those involved in such disputes. I understand that many times jirga take decision for benefits of the influential, however, it is still a system of speedy justice. We should not strive for end of the jirga system rather we should further improve the system and link it with the rules and regulations and somehow institutionalize it. It is also important to note that we are not trying to take actions to eliminate root causes of disputes and challenges to our social and traditional systems and just analyzing the results of the disputes. How many of our "social sector" or "women rights" elites are working on guiding the young generation to avoid taking steps which will create problems for their parents, society and their future generations.
such incidents ooze disgust for the inhuman society and pity for the married couples -thank goodness they weren't killed otherwise backward jirga ppl don't hesitate in taking such a step.
.... PTI care full .. it is good to cut SHO down to size ... but "empowering" these jirgas is dangrous too. the situation requires more innovative than aggresive corrective action planning. improving the current judicial and police system is better than falling victim of tribal customs.