By Rafiullah Mandokhail
ZHOB: A Jirga (tribal court) held at a religious seminary Riaz-ul-Uloom, settled a land dispute between the two clans that led to counter-attacks against one another and left 9 people dead and four others injured. The dispute had reached its climax in the past few years.
The Jirga announced its historic verdict and settled the dispute between the two clans Patkezai and Sulaiman Kahool of the Mandokhail tribe. The Jirga was attended by a large number of people belonging to different Pashtoon tribes.
After holding consultations in closed door meetings, the eighteen-member Jirga announced its verdict in front of notables and religious scholars in a large number.
The Jirga proceeding was chaired by Qari Sana-ul-Haq Mandokhail while Syed Mubeen Shah Akhwadnzada announced the verdict as the arbitrators were given the right of mediation. The Jirga members held several meetings with the rival parties and finally succeeded in resolving the dispute.
According to the verdict, the disputed land where Gajai and his family members were murdered will be given to Sulaiman Kahool as compensation and no one from the Patkezai side will have any right.
Mover over, Mehrab Khan Patkezai will take the Jirga to the house of Gajai, Molavi Abdullah Khan Patkezai’s family will take the Jirga to the house of Abdul Karim Maliko from the Sulaiman Kahool, while Maliko will take the Jirga to the house of Muhammad Ayoub Patkezai. The date will be decided by the Jirga members. A bail of Rs 20 million has also been taken from both the parties. Accepting the Jirga’s ruling, the two clans declared an end to their enmity.
Qari Sana-ul-Haq Mandokhail, Syed Mubeen Shah Akhwandzada, Maulana Allah Dad Kakar, Raza Muhammad Raza, Qazi Ahmed Khwasti, Sardar Azizullah Kibzai, Haji Muhammad Umer Sherani, Malik Niamat Mandokhail, Malik Haji Nawab Khan Huramzai, Malik Haji Noor Khan Mandokhail, Haji Sultan Nasar, Malik Amanullah Lalo Hariphal, Molvi Abdul Majeed Qureshi, Molvi Abdul Khalaq Akhwandzada, Molvi Abdul Manan Nasar, Molvi Amanullah Mandokhail and Hafiz Abdul Nasir Shahabzai were the Jirga members.
Meanwhile, ex-senator Raza Muhammad Raza on the occasion said that disputes and enmities not only sabotage peace and prosperity but also have negative impact on the socio-economic conditions.
He termed the Jirga system the most effective way for speedy settlement of disputes. He called for strengthening the Jirga system, which he said was the best and most effective forum to resolve disputes.
It is to be mentioned, that in 2017 The National Assembly had passed a bill giving legal and constitutional cover to the centuries old Jirga systems in the country in order to ensure speedy resolution of petty civil matters and reduce the burden of litigations on the courts.