Peshawar Private Jirgas Banned by Police

Peshawar police have banned private jirgas and warned wedding halls and other venues against hosting such gatherings, saying they promote gun culture and burden disputing parties with heavy costs. The Peshawar private jirgas ban follows complaints and several incidents reported during the informal dispute-resolution meetings.

Capital City Police Officer Dr Mian Saeed Ahmad confirmed the move. He said violations would invite legal action, not only against jirga members but also against those who provide them space.

Peshawar private jirgas: why police acted

Senior police officials said the decision followed a number of complaints and incidents during private jirgas. The gatherings had previously been discouraged, but the department has now imposed a formal ban.

“One of the most important reasons identified by locals for taking action against private jirgas is that they promote gun culture. Besides, the parties are asked to deposit hefty amounts as surety,” the CCPO told Dawn.

He said such gatherings often ended in clashes between the disputing parties, sometimes at the venue itself.

Free dispute panels already exist

Police pointed to the Dispute Resolution Committees (DRCs) already working in the city. The committees resolve disputes under police supervision and charge nothing.

The CCPO said DRC members were known to the public and their work was monitored by the police. No one could exert influence over the committees, which operated independently, he said.

“Private jirga members charge both parties for their services. Such jirgas are held at hotels and restaurants, where lavish meals are served, placing an additional financial burden on the parties, who are also required to pay the bills,” he said.

He added that in several cases police had arrested those involved, recovered the money and returned it to the disputing parties.

Jirgas, guns and land grabbing

The CCPO said disputes were often settled under the threat of firearms. Jirga members first asked both parties to authorise them to decide the matter. Once a verdict was announced, both sides were bound to accept it.

He said private jirgas had turned into commercial enterprises, with many jirga members eventually becoming involved in land grabbing.

“We have made it clear to everyone. We will not only take action against jirga members but also against those who provide them space to hold such gatherings,” he said.

A jirga is a traditional council of elders that settles disputes in Pashtun society. The practice carries deep social weight, which is why a police ban is a sensitive step. The DRC system offers a state-supervised alternative, but it will need public trust to replace gatherings that many families have used for generations.

KP’s top civil and security leadership has met to review the province’s security situation, and the ban fits that wider push for state control. A jirga in Mirpur recently ended a 14-year-old hostility, which shows the institution can still settle disputes when it works well. KP and Gilgit-Baltistan have also turned to talks to settle boundary disputes.

The province’s policing pressures remain high. Two policemen were martyred in an attack on a patrolling party in Swabi, and ten policemen were martyred in the Kohat attack. Safety inspections followed the Peshawar school collapse, another case where the state stepped in after a local failure.

Frequently asked questions

What is a private jirga?

A private jirga is an informal gathering of elders or influential people that settles a dispute between parties, outside the courts and outside the police-supervised Dispute Resolution Committees.

Why did Peshawar police ban private jirgas?

Police said the gatherings promote gun culture, charge hefty surety amounts and fees, often end in clashes, and have turned into commercial enterprises, with some members involved in land grabbing.

What is the alternative to a private jirga?

The Dispute Resolution Committees already work in Peshawar under police supervision. Their members are known to the public, their work is monitored, and they resolve disputes free of charge.