Parallel justice: Jirga at Khursheed Shah’s house settles dispute

The Jatois and Katos fought after a kidnapping and wedding within the two families

SUKKUR: A two-year-old bloody dispute between the Jatoi and Kato tribesmen was resolved amicably through a jirga in Sukkur on Monday evening.

The jirga was held at the residence of the leader of the opposition in the National Assembly, Syed Khursheed Ahmed Shah, in Sukkur, to resolve a bloody dispute between the Jatoi and Kato tribesmen of Sangi. Former Sindh minister and Pakistan Peoples Party (PPP) leader Mir Manzoor Panhwar presided over the jirga, while Shah was also in attendance.

The assembly included a large number of Jatoi and Kato tribesmen as well as several PPP leaders.

The jirga heard the grievances of both the sides at length, besides recording the statements of eyewitnesses and other villagers. After a lengthy discussion behind closed doors, the jirga announced its verdict, which was accepted by members of both the tribes.

According to the verdict, the Jatoi tribesmen were found guilty of kidnapping a Kato girl and killing two Kato tribesmen, besides injuring another. They were imposed a fine of Rs4.2 million. Meanwhile, a fine of Rs600,000 was imposed on the Kato tribesmen for killing one person.

The Jatoi tribesmen paid Rs50,000 on the spot and promised to pay the remaining amount in three equal installments. The girl at the epicenter of the dispute, Noor Bano, who is currently living at the residence of PPP leader Munawar Shah, will also be handed over to her parents.

Two years ago, Dilawar Jatoi, a resident of Sangi, had allegedly kidnapped Noor Bano, daughter of Allah Wadhayo Kato, and married her. The wedding had sparked animosity between the two tribes and the girl's brother had allegedly killed Dilawar Jatoi after declaring him karo. In retaliation, the Jatoi tribesmen had killed two Kato tribesmen, identified as Abid Hussain Kato and Dil Murad Kato. Another person, Gulsher Kato, was injured. Meanwhile, a passerby, Sonharo Jaffery, was killed by the Kato tribesmen in the crossfire.

The entire area near Sangi had become a virtual no-go area due to the dispute and had badly affected life in the nearby villages. When contacted, Mir Manzoor Panhwar confirmed that the jirga was held in Sukkur. He added that the Jatoi and Kato tribesmen were at war for the last two years and they had resolved the dispute to bring lasting peace in the area. According to him, there was no harm in settling a dispute between two warring Muslim brethren.

On the other hand, the former general secretary of the Sukkur High Court Bar Association, Shabbir Shar, has announced to file a constitutional petition against Khursheed Shah for holding a jirga at his residence. He said that the Sindh High Court had banned the holding of jirgas throughout Sindh in 2004, declaring them illegal. The holding of a jirga was therefore contempt of the court order, he added.

Published in The Express Tribune, January 21^st, 2015.