LANDI KOTAL: Political and social activists on Sunday reacted sharply to the torching of a house in Jamrud which was ordered by a jirga as punishment over killing of two persons.

A jirga of Kukikhel elders had on Saturday unanimously announced the penalty against Abbas Khan alias Abadai, a resident of Ghundi in Jamrud, who had killed two persons from his rival group during a jirga, which he had himself approached for resolution of a monetary dispute.

The jirga also imposed a fine of Rs1 million on him along with presenting five sheep to the Kukikhel elders.

A large number of Kukikhel tribesmen torched the house in Sakhi Pul locality.

Taj Mahal Afridi, a social activist, termed the torching of house an unfortunate incident and accused the local administration of its failure to prevent such ‘unlawful’ incidents.

He said the jirga decision and its implementation was tantamount to establishment of a parallel justice system.

“We have struggled for decades to abolish FCR, merge the tribal areas with Khyber Pakhtunkhwa and do away with the outdated and inhuman tribal customs and traditions,” he added.

Manzoor Afridi, an ANP activist, believed that such incidents would not have happened after the much-debated merger of erstwhile Fata with KP.

He said the beneficiaries of the previous British-era system were behind the promotion of such outdated practices.

Barkat Khan, another social activist, said tribal regions were passing through a transition period and the occurrence of such incidents could not be ruled out till a full-fledged judicial system was put in place.

Published in Dawn, January 21st, 2019