DERA GHAZI KHAN: The threat of a bloody clash looms over the tribal areas of Punjab between the Qaisrani tribe of Dera Ghazi Khan district and Asote tribe of Musakhel district in Balochistan over the ownership of grazing land lying on the unmarked provincial boundary.

Despite a truce managed a couple of days ago by elders of both tribes following a minor clash, the matter remains unresolved and the threat of a major clash looms until the demarcation of the boundary, source told Dawn.

A couple of days ago, the Qaisranis, who claim to be occupants of the grazing land for over a hundred years, were intercepted by people from the Asote tribal area. The two tribes have had cordial relations over the years, but now the Asotes claim the grazing land belonged to them as it was part of Balochistan.

An argument ensued that led to crossfire between members of the two tribes. Meanwhile, notables from both sides were engaged by the Border Military Police (BMP) and a truce was reached till the settlement of the issue, said BMP Jamadar Iftikhar Ziaad Qaisrani. He further maintained that the truce had averted a bloody clash and loss of life.

Former Dera Ghazi Khan district council vice chairman Javed Iqbal Qaisrani told Dawn that despite the truce, the threat of a clash was hovering over the area as any delay in the settlement of the issue could lead to irreversible losses on both sides. He said notables from both sides were ready to help, but without any legal assistance and cover of the deputy commissioners of both bordering districts, any exercise for demarcation of the boundary would be futile, he added.

He said a thumb rule for determining ownership of a mountain or land in the mountainous Sulaiman Range was by noticing the direction of flow of water descending from the mountain. Whichever direction rainwater from the mountain flowed in, the tribe residing in the area could stake a claim to the land. But the landscape of the disputed territory was very dodgy and needed detailed consultation between the stakeholders, suggested Mr Javed Qaisrani.

He said elders of both tribes had requested deputy commissioners of Dera Ghazi Khan and Musakhel to settle the issue by establishing a provincial boundary with consensus between the stakeholders.

Dera Ghazi Khan Deputy Commissioner Tahir Farooq told Dawn that he would soon arrange a meeting with his counterpart in Musakhel as well as all the stakeholders to settle the issue.

Published in Dawn, August 11th, 2020