By Ashrafuddin Pirzada
KHYBER: A grand tribal jirga held in Tirah valley on Friday rejected the FATA merger and demanded restoration of the traditional tribal justice system and peace.
A major jirga was convened in Tirah Valley under the banner of the FATA Loya Jirga to oppose the merger of FATA with Khyber Pakhtunkhwa and urged the government and other rival parties to restore peace. A large number of tribal elders and youth representatives from various parts of the former FATA districts participated.
The participants received a warm welcome upon their arrival in Tirah, where residents turned out in significant numbers to attend the jirga.
Addressing the gathering, tribal elders categorically rejected the prevailing administrative and judicial system, describing it as a failed, costly and complicated structure that neither delivers justice nor ensures peace. They emphasized that the previous tribal system, based on jirgas and centuries-old customs, was affordable, practical, and effective in resolving disputes.
According to them, the current thana-katcheri (police and court) culture has failed to provide relief to the people and has already been rejected by the wider public across Pakistan. They alleged that peace was severely affected after tribal were merged with Khyber Pakhtunkhwa.
The elders maintained that the tribal jirga system was unique in the world, rooted in traditions, justice and brotherhood. They demanded that the FATA merger be rolled back and the old tribal system be restored so that people can once again access swift and inexpensive justice at the local level.
Residents of Tirah added that they still adhere to the traditional tribal way of life, settling disputes through jirgas rather than courts, which they believe ensures peace, fraternity, and mutual respect.
In his concluding remarks, President of the FATA Loya Jirga, Malik Bismillah Khan, along with Malik Khan Marjan Wazir, Malik Muhammad Hussain, Malik Abdul Razzaq, Azam Khan Mehsud, Alif Khan and others thanked all participants and praised the hospitality of the people of Tirah.
