MANSEHRA: Police have arrested three members of a jirga, including a cleric and a councillor, for allowing the minor girl’s marriage to settle a dispute in Balakot tehsil.

Under the local vani tradition, families marrytheir female members to men of others to settle disputes.

SHO of Balakot police station Faisal Khalil told reporters on Monday that the detainees allowed the handover of the 14-year-oldgirl to a man whose sister eloped with the minor’s brother for marriage earlier this month.

He said a team, constituted on the orders of district police officer Shafiullah Khan Gandapur, conducted raids in the Bambora area and arrested cleric Qari Mian Haroon, councillor Mohammad Miskeen, and another jirga member, Waliur Rehman.

The SHO said raids were being carried out to arrest other jirga members and those who arranged the illegal marriage. He said the jirga had warned both families of action in line with local traditions if they reported the matter to police.

“Private jirgas are banned in the district, so anyone found holding or attending them will be brought to justice,” he said.

In a separate incident, Abdul Razaq shot and killed Nazakat Rafique during a jirga in the Khaki area. The jirga had been convened to settle a marriage dispute when the accused became enraged and opened fire.

Meanwhile, chairman of the District Development Advisory Committee and MPAAkram Ghazi on Monday announced that the provincial government had approved funds for the blacktopping of the Oghi-Battle Road.

“The chief minister has approved funds for this road. Work on it will be inaugurated soon,” Mr Ghazi told reporters in Oghi.

He added that in addition to funds for the road connecting Oghi with the Hazara Expressway and Karakoram Highway, the chief minister also approved Rs100 million for building local roads.

Mr Ghazi said he was committed to addressing local health and education issues.

He said additional development funds would be given away to resolve issues in Oghi and surrounding areas.

Published in Dawn, December 17th, 2024