DADU: A district and sessions judge of Dadu on Friday issued notices to a number of feudal lords — including former federal and provincial ministers as well as former lawmakers — on a petition filed by a lawyer against holding of a jirga in violation of the relevant provisions of the Constitution and subsequent judicial orders.

The Hyderabad DIG, Dadu deputy commissioner and SSP, and SHO of the B-Section police station of Dadu were ordered to submit a detailed report on Aug 5 about the jirga, allegedly held in the autaq (guest room) of Pakistan Peoples Party MNA Sardar Rafiq Ahmed Jamali on July 27 to settle a dispute of buffalo theft between the Jatoi tribe and Shahani community.

The weeks-long dispute had led to kidnapping of each other’s members by the rival sides and finally on July 11 resulted in a fierce battle in which heavy weapons, including rockets and anti-aircraft guns, were used in the Sangi and Dubar areas. A major police operation had to be carried out to stop the battle that lasted almost 24 hours. Many train services were also suspended as the embattled groups were attacking each other across the railway tracks dividing their respective areas.

Fines imposed on Jatois, Shahanis to settle dispute

Prominent feudal lords intervened to settle the dispute by convening a jirga at MNA Sardar Jamali’s guest room in Dadu on July 27.

However, a lawyer, Ghulam Nabi Lashari, filed an application against the holding of the jirga in the court of a district and sessions judge pleading that such acts had already been declared unconstitutional, hence illegal.

The judge issued notices to MNA Sardar Rafiq Ahmed Jamali, former PPP minister Mir Manzoor Panhwar (who presided over the jirga), chieftain of the Shahani community Sardar Chakar Khan Shahani, chieftain of the Jatoi tribe Sardar Ibrahim Khan Jatoi, former federal minister Murtaza Khan Jatoi, MPA Masroor Khan Jatoi, former Sindh minister Abid Khan Jatoi and others for participating in the jirga.

In the jirga proceedings, Shahanis alleged that Jatois shot dead their two fellow members, Manthar and Talib, when footprints of the buffalo thieves led them to a stable, owned by former federal minister Ghulam Murtaza Jatoi, and demanded the animals be handed over to them. They said the two buffaloes were taken away from Ismail Ja Bhan village in the katcha area. They further said that another fellow, Hubdar Shahani, was wounded in the attack.

The jirga found Jatois guilty of the two murders and asked them to pay Rs500,000 to the aggrieved Shahanis as fine.

The Jatois, on their part, alleged that Shahanis had occupied their lands and some properties in the Kachho area located along the Indus River. The jirga ordered them to end their occupation and pay a fine of Rs300,000 to the Jatois.

Both sides accepted the jirga ruling and announced an end to their hostility.

While issuing notices to all the respondent feudal lords, the district and sessions judge ordered Dadu deputy commissioner and the police officers concerned to appear in court on Aug 5 along with a detailed report of the jirga and record of the case.

In the Sangi and Dubar areas, life returned to normal after the jirga announced a settlement.

SSP Aijaz Ahmed Sheikh had set up 10 check posts in Ismail Ja Bhan village, Keti Jatoi, Moundar and Aminiani to check a flare-up.

Police were, however, continuing patrolling the 40km area till Friday evening.

A double murder FIR was lodged at the Ismail Ja Bhan police station by Khadim Shahani against nine Jatoi tribesmen soon after the July 11 incident. The case is likely to be withdrawn now when the dispute has stood settled, according to local people.

Published in Dawn, July 31st, 2021