PESHAWAR, April 24: The Alliance for Protection of Human Rights, a group of eight NGOs, has condemned a recent jirga declaration in Upper Dir that honour killing is part of tribal traditions.

The alliance held a meeting at the office of the Aurat Foundation here on Monday to take stock of the situation arising out of the jirga declaration.

Participants of the meeting expressed concern over the decision by the jirga in the Nehag Dara area of the Upper Dir district which justified honour killings and barred registration of FIRs in such cases.

“It is shocking to note that the jirga has warned of dire consequences if any one refused to abide by its decision,” members of the alliance said.

They pointed out that the jirga decision was against Islamic injunctions and international covenants and feared that it would have negative impacts on the society.

The rights body demanded that the government should move against such elements as federal and provincial legislatures had passed laws banning honour killings and Swara.

It urged the Permanent Commission on Status of Women and federal ministries of law and parliamentary affairs and women’s development to come forward and safeguard rights of women.