By Fazal Amin Shinwari
PESHAWAR: The federal government has initiated steps to restore the traditional jirga system in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa and strengthen civil administration in the region.
Prime Minister Shahbaz Sharif has formed an 18-member high-level committee to review the proposal, led by Federal Minister for Kashmir and GB Affairs Engineer Amir Muqam. Law Minister Azam Nazir Tarar will serve as deputy convener.
Other members include Interior Minister Mohsin Naqvi, Planning Minister Ahsan Iqbal, the Chief Minister and Governor of KP, former top provincial officials, and relevant federal secretaries.
The move follows a recent meeting at the Governor’s House in Peshawar, where the Prime Minister underscored the importance of reviving traditional dispute resolution mechanisms in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa (KP) and the merged tribal districts.
The committee is expected to submit detailed recommendations soon.
What is Jriga?
The Jirga system is a traditional Pashtun form of dispute resolution, found primarily in the Pashto-speaking regions of Pakistan and Afghanistan. It involves a gathering of elders who act as arbitrators to settle conflicts and disputes within the community. The system is based on Pashtunwali, the Pashtun social code, and aims to reach decisions through consensus or a two-thirds majority.
