KARACHI, May 25: The Human Rights Commission of Pakistan (HRCP) has described upper Sindh areas, especially Ghotki district, as 'a state within a state' and called for strengthening the civil society organizations and democratic institutions there to combat feudal system.

An HRCP fact-finding team has visited Ghotki to investigate last week's clashes, between the Mahar and Almani tribes, which had left five people dead. In its report, the team has stated that the Ghotki area is in a firm grip of local sardars and the administration, law-enforcement agencies, political and social forces, journalists and civil society organizations all have to work at the will of the sardars. The prevalent mindset is damaging national unity and cohesion.

The police and administration depend on the advice of Sardars, thus reducing the credibility of judicial system, HRCP report says, observing that "a Mahar Sardar heading the provincial government has led to further deterioration in police system. The police officials have become more loyal to Mahar Sardars and want to keep the jirga system in effect."

The HRCP report further stated that the administration and police had not taken notice of Justice Rehmat Hussain Jaffrey's decision declaring jirga 'illegal and unconstitutional'. The administration, which is supposed to implement the court's verdict in letter and spirit, might not have gone through the judgement, it added.

It observed that the recent clashes in Ghotki appeared to be the result of a struggle between Sardars for political supremacy. The marriage of Ms Shaista Almani and Balakhsher may have heightened the tension between the two tribes but the last week's clashes were not a direct result of the marriage, the team remarked.

According to the team's report, several hundred Almani tribesmen have migrated from Ghotki to other area whereas the remaining ones would also have to move out if the situation worsened.

The HRCP report stressed on practical measures to eliminate the jirga system. The report also referred to inefficiency of courts and corruption in the legal system which, it said, had undermined the judicial system's credibility. -PPI