PESHAWAR: Awami National Party (ANP) has strongly condemned the federal government’s decision to restore jirga system, calling it an unconstitutional and regressive step that undermines provincial autonomy, justice and democracy.

ANP central spokesman Engineer Ihsanullah said in a statement here on Monday that the decision was a direct attack on provincial autonomy and an attempt to impose a tribal system on the entire Khyber Pakhtunkhwa.

He said that 25th Amendment, through which former Federally Administered Tribal Areas were merged with Khyber Pakhtunkhwa, was a historic step towards integration. “However, restoring the jirga system undermined this integration,” he added.

The ANP spokesperson said that judiciary and judicial system were provincial subjects under 18th Amendment. The federal government’s move to impose jirga system on Khyber Pakhtunkhwa was as a violation of those powers.

He said that jirga had historically been used to deny justice to women, children and minorities and to impose informal punishments. It was against the principles of justice and equality enshrined in the Constitution, he said.

He said that Supreme Court had already declared jirgas and their punishments illegal in a 2020’s judgement. The party demanded of federal government to respect that ruling, he said.

ANP demanded immediate dissolution of the committee formed to oversee the restoration of jirga system. The party insisted that reforms or changes in the judicial system should be initiated in consultation with provincial assembly.

ANP suggested modernising district courts to provide timely justice to rural areas and establishing special judicial benches for women and minorities.

“ANP views restoration of jirga system as a regressive step that would push Khyber Pakhtunkhwa back into a dark age. The party vows to oppose this decision at every forum and reaffirms its commitment to building a modern, just and constitutional province,” said the statement.

Published in Dawn, July 8th, 2025