SWAT: Malakand regional police officer Nasir Mehmood Satti on Tuesday urged residents to address their minor domestic issues, longstanding disputes and property conflicts through jirgas instead of taking them to the courts of law for decision.

“In Pakhtun areas, the jirga system plays a vital, time-honoured role in resolving issues of the community. This centuries-old institution fosters a sense of unity and collective decision-making ensuring that conflicts are settled amicably and following local customs and traditions,” the RPO told members of the Qaumi Jirga during a meeting in his office.

The visitors included Qaumi Jirga vice-president Mian Naseeb Jan, Upper Swat president Malik Dildar Khan, Malakand president Fazal Ahad Lalaji and several other members.

The RPO said that the jirga’s influence extended beyond legal matters as it also served as a platform for social cohesion and the preservation of Pakhtun cultural values.

Qaumi Jirga members meet RPO

He said that the jirga, through open dialogue and consensus building, remained an indispensable mechanism for conflict resolution in the region and thus, fostering peace and stability for future generations.

Mr Satti appreciated efforts of the Qaumi Jirga for conflict resolution and said that both police and the local community were responsible for resolving trivial issues, longstanding problems, and property disputes through the jirga system in a timely and peaceful manner.

He emphasised the importance of jirga meetings.

The visitors briefed the RPO about the effectiveness of the jirga system for sorting out the issues of the people and communities speedily and said they strongly believed that the Qaumi Jirga could effectively address problems in the entire province through the traditional mechanism of jirga.

They also said that the Qaumi Jirga consisted of retired officers of the provincial government and local dignitaries, who played a crucial role in resolving the people’s longstanding issues in line with Pakhtun traditions.

Mr Naseeb Jan presented his book to the RPO.

Published in Dawn, July 19th, 2023