Community Appraisal and Motivation Programme (CAMP) organised a grand Jirga in Jinnah Convention Centre, at Islamabad here on Tuesday. The event was attended by almost 800 Jirgamaars (Jirga decision makers), Maliks, religious leaders and elders from the tribal region.
This event was an output of CAMP's Rule of Law Programming (RLPP) project, which started in August 2010, involving research, capacity building training sessions and an advocacy campaign to reform and reorganise the Jirga system in Fata.
The customs of Swara (which is the exchange of a woman from an offender's family as compensation to settle a dispute, generally murder); 'Jagh' (claim of a man on a young girl for marriage with or without her consent), and 'Valvar' ('bride price' or payment of a sum of money to the bridegroom's family considered equal to that of a 'bride') are the three practices that have been banned unanimously at agency level Jirgas organised by CAMP.
The event was attended by a panel of prestigious experts, who shared their views on the reformation of the Jirga system. The chief guest of the event was the Governor of Khyber Pakhtunkhwa Barrister Syed Masood Kausar. The programme was moderated by senior journalist, Syed Talat Hussain. The event opened with recitation from the Holy Quran, followed by an official welcome to all the representatives of Fata, donors, and other esteemed members of the audience by CAMP Chief Executive, Naveed Ahmad Shinwari.
The CEO of CAMP thanked all the participants and applauded their help in achieving the target of reforming the Jirga. He further said that more efforts were needed in the region to bring it at par with other parts of Pakistan, not just economically but also in matters related to justice dispensation.
CAMP prepared a short documentary film to chart the progress of the RLPP project from its initiation in 2009 to the present, which included information related to the agency level Jirgas, their decisions, and the views and opinions of the RLPP Jirga team at CAMP relating to lessons learnt in the course of the project, which was shown at the event.
The representatives of the agencies and Frontier regions were invited to make presentations regarding the details of the agency level Jirgas and the decisions they arrived at relating to the banning of the three aforementioned practices, 'Swara', 'Jagh', and 'Valvar'. The Maliks presented their views one by one and reaffirmed their commitment to weeding out social ills from their society. They condemned barbarity against women and said that their rights, as enshrined in Islam and Sharia, will henceforth be protected by the Jirga.
These presentations were followed by expert comments and speeches including former Justice Mian Muhammad Ajmal and Vice-Chancellor, Riphah University, Dr Anis. The keynote address was made by the chief guest of the event, Governor of KP, Barrister Syed Masood Kausar.
Barrister Syed Masood Kausar, addressed the gathering and thanked the participants and organisers for bringing together this group of people in order to rid Fata of obsolete and anti-human practices. He appreciated CAMP's efforts for introducing progressive reforms in the Jirga system and said that there is a great bias against women in not just the tribal society but also in the western world. He noted that justice cannot be provided simply by drafting laws or operating courts but a general sense of social justice must prevail amongst all minds.
Barrister Kausar stated that, at least in principle, there is nothing wrong with the concept of Jirga that relies on collective wisdom but any system can be perverted. The Governor opined that the tribal people are some of the most peaceful people of the world and are victims of aggression against their people and lands. He urged the Maliks and elders of the area to work towards the establishment of peace in Fata. He said that there is a great need for establishing and propagating the peaceful image of Fata residents.
The event was concluded by distribution of shields to the panel of speakers and CAMP staff which had a pivotal role in the success of the agency level Jirgas, and ultimately the Grand Jirga at Islamabad. It was officially closed by a note of thanks from Naveed Shinwari, in appreciation of the tribal elders, religious leaders and decision makers from Fata who travelled to Islamabad to make this event possible; and all the participants present who lent their support to make this event a success.