SUKKUR, July 12: A jirga was held on Monday in Garhi Chakkar, Ghotki, to resolve a dispute between Mahar and Korai tribes and another on Sunday in the district to resolve a Mahar-Pitafi dispute.

The jirga held on Monday in Garhi Chakkar, Ghotki district, resolved the dispute between Mahar and Korai tribes. The jirga fined the Mahar tribe Rs300,000 for killing a Korai tribesman, Rs400,000 for kidnapping four women of the tribe and Rs25,000 for injuring one person.

No fine was imposed on the Korai tribe for killing and kidnapping of its opponents in retaliation. Sardar Rahim Bux Bozdar presided over the jirga which was held at his residence.

Sardar Ali Gohar Khan Mahar, Sahib Khan Korai and Gullan Korai were among the participants. Two Korai tribesmen had been killed and one injured and four women had been kidnapped while one Mahar tribesman had been killed and three women had been kidnapped in the dispute, caused by the marriage of Shaista Almani and Balkhsher Mahar.

On Sunday, a jirga was held at the residence of Sardar Rahim Bux Bozdar in Garhi Chakar near Mirpur Mathelo, Ghotki district, to resolve a bloody dispute between the Mahar and Pitafi tribes.

The tribal court, proceedings of which began at 2pm and ended at 11:15pm, was attended by Sardar Ali Gohar Mahar, the brother of former Sindh chief minister Ali Mohammad Mahar, Sardar Ahmed Ali Pitafi and tribal elders of the area.

Sardar Bozdar, who presided over the jirga, announced its verdict after hearing both the parties. A fine of Rs750,000 was imposed upon the Mahar tribe for killing Bahawal and Rahzan and injuring Ali Hassan and Ghulamoo, all Pitafi by caste.

Similarly, Rs450,000 fine was imposed upon the Pitafi tribesmen for killing Gaman and injuring Ghulam Qadir and Qasim, all Mahar by caste. However, the jirga failed to announce a decision on the murder of Ali Hassan Mahar and it will be held again to take a decision in this regard.

The Sindh High Court, Sukkur bench, has banned holding of a jirga but even then the tribal courts are being held in upper Sindh. The tribal people prefer jirga over a court of law as it takes a long time to settle a matter through the latter whereas the same matter is decided through a jirga within hours.