Authorities banking on centuries-old tradition for Bara peace

Published August 9, 2015
A tribal Sareshta in session in Bara tehsil of Khyber Agency. — Dawn
A tribal Sareshta in session in Bara tehsil of Khyber Agency. — Dawn

According to local people, after the enforcement of National Action Plan (NAP) the political administration of Bara subdivision of Khyber agency has converted all pro- government peace committees into Sareshta forum, a local community force, and has tasked its members to negotiate with militants to lay down arms and hand over themselves to the political authorities.

The Sareshta members would force militants to come to the negotiating table or get ready for dire consequences.

Jibran Wali Afridi, an expert on tribal jirga system and resident of Bara tehsil, told this scribe that the Sareshta members would be responsible for creating an environment of peace, impose fine on criminals and pinpoint areas for the development projects and also to resolve public issues through formal jirga process.

He said that Khasadar and Levies forces would accompany elders of Sareshta members and would act as their guards. “The elders are not allowed to carry heavy weapons. However, they can take along routine arms for safety purposes. The political administration is closely monitoring smooth function of Sareshta,” he said.

Mr Afridi said that Sareshta in the past used to work independently. “Now for the first time in the history, it is brought under the control of the political authorities,” he added.

He said that Sareshta was an emergency task force comprising seasoned tribal elders, mandated to peacefully resolve a burning issue regarding law and order, murder, robbery, ransom, kidnapping, or external threat. It is a centuries-old tribal tradition to settle inter or intra-tribal issues.

Mr Afridi said that Sareshta members were supposed to hold weekly meetings with local political administration regarding law and order situation in the area. Currently, elders of five sub-tribes of Afridi tribe including Akakhel, Shalobar, Jandakhel, Bar Qambarkhel and Malikdinkhel have been inducted in the Afridi tribal Sareshta.

Whenever a serious issue threatening a tribe or tribes, was arisen, Sareshta was called and empowered to address the problem with collective efforts, he said. He added that Sareshta remained intact till peaceful resolution of the dispute.

“The members of Sareshta are authorised to punish violators of Sareshta statutes either by burning of their houses or imposing heavy monetary fine or both. Sareshta has been paying a vital role in keeping peace and resolving issues in the tribal areas down the ages.” Mr Afridi said.

Dr Saboor Afridi, an expert on tribal culture and traditions and presently residing in Peshawar, has planned to write a book in Urdu on the tribal traditions including Sareshta and jirga.

“I am going to write a book on the old tribal traditions. My basic aim is to provide authentic information on those golden principles, rules and tribal customs, which had been governing and keeping our tribal society in perfect peace. I want our youngsters to know about their history and culture in letter and spirit,” Dr Saboor, hailing from Shalobar Afridi tribe, told this scribe.

He said that jirga was like the modern day parliament while Sareshta was like a judicial commission, which was set up to resolve an issue of serious nature regarding major social crimes, internal or external threats.

“A group of 40 to 50 comprising experienced tribal elders having a good character and track record were selected from every sub-section of a tribe or all tribes in case of big issue through a grand tribal jirga,” said Dr Saboor.

In the past, he said, Sareshta members would select physically strong young men called ‘Shalgoon’ to implement their decisions. “The Shalgoon community police on the order of Sareshta members would arrest those individuals, who would refuse to abide by the decision of the supreme forum. All kinds of tribal or internecine enmities would remain suspended during Sareshta,” he added.

Dr Saboor said that Sareshta members in old times used to be volunteers. Now, he said, Sareshta members under the political administration would get some token incentives.

“I am very happy that the political authorities and our own people have reverted to centuries-old and time-tested tradition of Sareshta for combating the threat of militancy and issue of law and order in Bara tehsil and the scenic Tirah valley. I strongly believe that Sareshta forum will definitely deliver on many counts and will dispense justice. Also I hope it will help political authorities to establish permanent peace in the restive tribal area,” he said.

Dr Saboor was of the view that first priority should be given to peace restoration and then rehabilitation. He said that FCR Reforms Committee should include Sareshta forum in its recommendations. He said that Sareshta and many other such golden traditions and social customs that could help in restoring peace in the volatile region should be revisited.

Bakht Jahan Afridi, a resident of Bara Qambarkhel, remarked that since Sareshta had set up, there was comparatively peaceful situation in his village. He said that people had full confidence in their elders’ integrity. He said that members of Sareshta knew very well psyche of their people.

“The political administration should ensure that Sareshta members should not misuse its authority, make them go after criminals in the area and award them exemplary punishment. We have been suffering heavy losses at the hands of militants and anti-society elements,” said Bakht Jahan.

Malik Gul Miran Khan Afridi, former chief of peace committee of Akakhel Afridi tribe, told this scribe that reverting to the old traditional forum of Sareshta was a step in the right direction. He said that he was representing his own tribe in the Sareshta.

“I am fully determined to help restore peace in the region as our people have suffered tremendously and they are no more in the position to face further hardships. Tribal people are peace-loving and the age-long Sareshta forum for maintaining peace is a proof of it,” the tribal elder said.

He said that Sareshta members would remain focus on restoration of peace, elimination of militants and would extend every possible help to the political administration to dispense justice to common people.

Published in Dawn, August 9th, 2015

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