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PM Forms High-Level Committee to Review Jirga System Revival in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa
PM Shahbaz Sharif forms 18-member panel to review revival of jirga system & alternative dispute resolution in KP. Proposals to be submitted within a month.
ND
by News Desk
2025-06-20
PM Forms High-Level Committee to Review Jirga System Revival in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa

Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif has constituted an 18-member committee to examine the revival of the jirga system and promote alternative dispute resolution (ADR) mechanisms in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa. The move is aimed at empowering local governance and restoring traditional dispute resolution frameworks, while ensuring alignment with the Constitution and the judiciary.

According to a notification issued by the Prime Minister’s House, the committee will conduct stakeholder consultations across KP and prepare a comprehensive set of recommendations. The final proposals are to be submitted to the Prime Minister within one month.

The jirga system — a traditional method of conflict resolution practiced in tribal and rural areas — has long served as a local mechanism to resolve disputes swiftly and culturally. However, its legal status and compatibility with Pakistan’s formal judicial system have been the subject of debate in recent years, especially following the merger of erstwhile FATA with KP.

As per the notification received by Geo News, the committee’s primary mandate is to review pathways to legally restore or integrate the jirga system into the broader dispute resolution structure, in a manner that remains consistent with the Constitution, judicial oversight, and fundamental rights.

The committee will be chaired by Federal Minister for SAFRON, Engineer Amir Muqam, with Federal Law Minister Azam Nazir Tarar as co-convener. Other key members include:

·       Minister for Planning, Ahsan Iqbal

·       Minister for Interior, Mohsin Naqvi

·       Chief Minister and Governor of Khyber Pakhtunkhwa or their representatives

·       Former Chief Secretary KP, Shakeel Durrani

·       Former IGP KP, Salahuddin Mehsud

·       Secretary Apex Committee SIFC, Dr. Muhammad Jahanzeb Khan

·       Secretaries from Planning, Economic Affairs, Home & Narcotics, Overseas Pakistanis, and Kashmir Affairs

·       Chief Secretary KP

·       IGP KP

·       Representatives from GHQ and MO Directorate

The notification stresses that the recommendations must be inclusive, accounting for the voices and rights of all communities and schools of thought. Any proposals must also avoid legal conflict and aim to enhance the efficiency and accessibility of civil administration and justice systems.

Experts believe this initiative could bring much-needed reform to rural justice, but emphasize that care must be taken to ensure human rights protections, especially for women, minorities, and vulnerable communities, within any revised jirga model.

The move comes amid growing calls for decentralized, culturally grounded justice systems that can ease pressure on Pakistan’s overburdened courts while respecting constitutional boundaries.

 
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