Parallel justice system: Man sells daughters to pay Jirga fine

Qadir Bux Sarki was declared Karo nine months ago in Jacobabad

SUKKUR: Notwithstanding the fact that the Supreme Court has outlawed tribal Jirgas and panchayats for adjudication of disputes, this parallel justice system continues unchecked in the rural areas of the country, especially in Sindh and Punjab.

A villager in Jacobabad district, who was fined by a Jirga, sold his three daughters to pay the fine – but still could not arrange the money to pay the penalty in full. The villager, Qadir Bux Sarki, resident of village Garhi Hassan near Thull, on Tuesday staged a protest outside the local press club against the Jirga decision.

Qadir Bux Sarki, a day labourer, was declared Karo with the daughter of Punhal Doho nine months ago. The girl was later put to death by her brothers and cousin.



Subsequently, local elder Sardar Zulfiqar Sarki convened a Jirga which declared Sarki karo and imposed a fine of Rs1.1 million on him. He requested the Jirga to reduce the amount but to no avail.

Ultimately the poor day labourer had to sell his three daughters, 14-year-old Noor Bano, eight-year-old Kaz Bano and three-year-old Zameeran, for Rs400,000.

Talking to The Express Tribune, SSP Jacobabad Malik Zafar Iqbal confirmed the incident and said that he has ordered an investigation into the matter.

He added that he has ordered an FIR to be lodged against the man responsible for holding the Jirga and the ‘human trade’ as it was a criminal offence.

Sardar Zulfiqar was unavailable for comment.

Published in The Express Tribune, April 1^st, 2015.