June 23, 2008	Monday	Jamadi-us-Sani 18, 1429

Karachi, June 22: A self-styled tribal court, popularly known as “Jirga”, was held in Karachi on Sunday to settle a dispute between two clans of Bhand community of Pir Jo Goth. The jirga was led by former provincial minister Sardar Mir Manzoor Ali Khan Panhwar.

The Sindh High Court has already declared holding of jirga or passing decrees in such tribal courts unlawful.

The jirga ordered Bagan Bhand clan to pay a fine of Rs3.2 million to its rival Hussain Bux Bhand clan. It also ordered the Hussain Bux Bhand clan to pay a fine of Rs1.6 million to the other party.

The dispute pertained to a series of armed attacks carried out by members of both the clans against each other. The attacks had left six people dead and four others wounded.

Both the clans had been at loggerheads for some 12 years with the bone of contention being ownership of a piece of land near Kot Mir Mohammad.—PPI