Dictatorships, political parties encourage jirgas, concludes HRCP workshop

Some participants suggest that jirgas should be abolished, others say reforms should be introduced in present system.

SUKKUR:

Minor disputes often turn into tribal feuds in Sindh and go on to eat up generations, observed Human Rights Commission of Pakistan general secretary IA Rehman on Saturday. He was speaking at the concluding session of the two-day workshop on “Tribal Feuds in Sindh and Jirga System” at the HRCP office in Sukkur. 

“The feudal system dominates our country and does not allow the law and politics to operate smoothly,” said Rehman. He claimed that most people were not aware of their rights and therefore approached a sardar or a tribal elder to resolve their problems. The elders, on the other hand, would tell the aggrieved parties to attend a jirga, but would never allow women to participate in them. “A woman would be sitting at home and informed by relatives that she was bartered to resolve a dispute.” He added that the verdict passed by the jirga was binding upon both parties and nobody had the right to appeal it.

Rehman said that 127 jirgas were reportedly organised in Sukkur and Larkana from the start of the year to April 30. Many jirgas are often not reported at all. While explaining the reasons for existence of the jirga system in the country, Rehman blamed dictatorial regimes as well as political parties and civil society for encouraging them. Not all sardars and tribal elders support jirgas, but many people were compelled to choose them because of the delay in the dispensation of justice through courts.

Some participants at the workshop suggested that jirgas should be abolished altogether. Others, however, said that the present jirga system should be reformed. “Lack of education is also a big problem,” added Rehman.

Rehman claimed some credit for the Supreme Court’s decision to pick up the missing persons case in Balochistan. “It was because of the HRCP’s untiring efforts that half of the ‘missing persons’ from Balochistan were found.” While referring to the murder of Jeay Sindh Muttahida Mahaz leader Muzaffar Bhutto, Rehman said that nationalists were being picked up and kept in captivity. Nearly 15 persons were ‘missing’ from Badin alone.

HRCP vice chairman Amarnath Motumal, council member Prof. Badar Soomro, HRCP Sukkur office coordinator Jameela Mangi and others were also present on the occasion.

Published in The Express Tribune, May 27^th, 2012.