March 26, 2008	Wednesday	Rabi-ul-Awwal 17, 1429

SUKKUR, March 25: A tribal jirga settled a bloody dispute between Lund and Mahar tribes, which has claimed three people’s lives and caused injuries to over a dozen others, in Reti town on Monday by imposing heavy fines on both the sides.

The dispute began after a clash between the members of the two tribes in Ghotki town before the general elections and was getting bloodier by each day.

The chieftains of the warring tribes, Mohammad Bux Khan Mahar and Fayaz Khan Lund agreed to settle the dispute peacefully through a jirga, which found the two sides guilty of murders and arson and imposed heavy penalties as punishment.

According to detailed decision, the jirga found Mahar tribesmen guilty of murdering Pir Bux Lund and a passerby Fayaz Ahmed Shaikh and imposed Rs800,000 fine for the killings and Rs410,000 fine for injuring Lund tribesmen, setting fire to their houses and looting valuables.

Similarly, the jirga found Lund tribesmen guilty of murdering Pathan Mahar imposed Rs400,000 fine for the killing and Rs476,000 fine for setting fire to Mahar tribe’s houses, vehicles, looting of cash and other valuables.

The negotiations were presided over by Sardar Ahmed Shar, while Sardar Rahim Bux Bozdar acted as Ameen. They heard the account of events from the tribesmen belonging to both the tribes and later held a closed-door meeting for four hours to reach a decision.

They discussed the situation of the area and resolved to maintain peace in the district.

A large numbers of Mahar and Lund tribesmen armed with automatic weapons attended the jirga. The district administration of Ghotki had made strict security arrangements on the occasion.