MANSEHRA: The police department has banned the holding of private jirgas for settling criminal issues, including honour-related killings, out of court.

“Almost all private jirgas held by tribal elders help influential criminals get off scot-free in cases from honour killings to theft to land grabbing to car snatching to the misery of their victims,” district police officer Sajjad Khan told reporters here on Saturday.

The DPO said he had directed the deputy superintendents of police and SHOs to ensure that private jirgas don’t take place in the district and violators of the restriction are dealt with strictly.

He said the police had formed dispute resolution councils for out-of-the-court settlement of the people’s issues.

Police chief orders crackdown on ban violators

“Anyone can move these councils for justice without counsel. These are legal bodies formed through legislation and with members of a reputation for integrity,” he said.

KILLED: A man and his nephew were killed and two other people suffered critical injuries when two motorcycles collided head-on in Malkandia area of Kaghan valley on Friday night.

The accident left all four people riding both motorcycles.

The residents shifted them to the Balakot Civil Hospital, where the doctors pronounced Mohammad Rafique and his nephew, Mohammad Sameer, both residents of Jarad area, dead.

The others were referred to the Ayub Medical Complex, Abbottabad, due to critical injuries.

The Kaghan police registered an FIR and began investigation to ascertain the cause of the accident.

Meanwhile, Mansehra District Bar Association president Waqas Raza has hailed the Supreme Court’s verdict on the no-confidence issue and said the decision had buried the doctrine of necessity.

He told reporters here that the lawyers would continue with their struggle for the supremacy of Constitution and law in the country.

WATER ISSUE: Chairman-elect of the Mansehra tehsil council Sheikh Mohammad Shafee has said smooth supply of drinking water to the city and its suburbs is one of his top priorities.

“The people of our city have long been suffering from water shortage. I will ensure its early yet effective resolution,” he told reporters here on Saturday.

The council chairman also complained about the choking of sewerage lines in the inner city and under main arteries and said he had a comprehensive plan to address the issue.

He regretted that Rs200 million funds earmarked in 2016 by the then prime minister, Nawaz Sharif, to acquire land for a graveyard hadn’t been utilised yet.

“Immediately after taking oath of my office, I will ensure land acquisition for the cemetery as the existing graveyards have no space for the dead,” he said.

Published in Dawn, April 10th, 2022