By Ashrafuddin Pirzada
KHYBER: Tribal jirga of Bar Qambarkhel area in Tirah valley on Sunday set four houses on fire in Haider Kandao village, accusing the residents of spreading obscenity through TikTok and viral videos, sources said.
The decision was led by tribal elders Haji Zahir Shah Afridi and Kamaluddin under centuries-old Afridi customs.
Tirah is a far-flung hilly area of the district Khyber bordering Afghanistan and Orakzai district, populated with around o.3 million people.
The sources said that two months ago, alleged objectionable videos and audio clips involving two boys and two girls from the village surfaced on social media. Declaring the incident against tribal values, the jirga unanimously ordered the burning of the houses as punishment.
Elders said the punishment was not based on any legal or religious code but followed long-standing tribal traditions. They argued that those responsible for bringing disgrace to the area and promoting immorality deserved such action.
Local sources said the two boys went missing after the videos circulated. Meanwhile, the jirga’s decision received backing from various political, social and tribal circles, who termed it in line with Afridi customs.
Separately, the Qambarkhel jirga announced a crackdown on the sale of crystal meth (ice), narcotics at medical stores and immoral activities such as underage wandering and pederasty(Londa bazi), warning of strict action against violators under tribal traditions.
