Conflict resolution: Jirga solves four-year old bloody dispute

The jirga was held in Balochistan to avoid legal complications as the SC has banned them in Sindh.

SUKKUR: A jirga was held in village Fatehkot, Balochistan, on Saturday to attempt to resolve a four-year-old dispute between the clansmen of Malkhani and Jakhrani tribes.

The jirga was jointly presided over by Mir Manzoor Panhwar, Sardar Fateh Muhammad Umrani and Dad Muhammad Jakhrani and was attended by a large number of clansmen of both tribes.

According to sources, the leaders listened patiently to the complaints from both parties and announced the verdict that was accepted by all stakeholders. As per the verdict, a sum of Rs7.1million had been imposed as a fine on both parties.  The Jakhrani clansmen were found guilty of having killed six members of the Manglani tribe and were directed to pay Rs3.6 million in damages. The Manglani clan was in turn directed to pay Rs3.5 million for killing four members of the Jakhrani tribe. Accepting the jirga’s verdict, the Jakhrani clansmen paid Rs100,000 up front to settle the dispute. The conflict had reportedly started over a karo-kari dispute.

The Supreme Court of Pakistan has banned the holding of jirgas throughout Sindh so it was held in Balochistan to avoid legal complications.

Published in The Express Tribune, November 25^th, 2013.