DERA GHAZI KHAN: Blaming inefficiency, apathy and negligence of state machinery, besides illiteracy and unemployment, for the rampant lawlessness and growth of criminal gangs in the tribal areas of DG Khan and Rajanpur, Punjab’s former governor and chief of Khosa tribe, Sardar Zulfiqar Khan Khosa suggests introduction of an efficient justice system in these areas that is also consistent with Baloch culture and local norms and revamp of the Border Military Police (BMP).

Tracing the root-cause of the rising lawlessness in the tribal areas, especially within his own Khosa tribe, the octogenarian tumandar (chief) of Khosa clan, recalled the days when the Jirga system was functional, and said even cases of heinous crimes would be decided within days and the tribesmen had confidence in the Jirga as well as the chief of their tribe. In contrast, he said, under the present system of justice, the tribesmen had to wait for years for settlement of their issues and the delay often led to bloody tribal feuds.

He regretted that the state had failed to introduce an effective judicial mechanism to replace the colonial Jirga system, which was appropriate for Baloch culture, norms and living.

It is worth mentioning that tribal people are used to speedy trials and justice, a hallmark of old Jirga system.

He said deputy commissioner and political assistant used to pay regular visits to tribal areas on horseback to take stock of law and order situation in their respective jurisdictions to settle tribal feuds with the assistance of tribal chiefs concerned, regretting that now a political assistant did not leave his air-conditioned office in DG Khan city.

Mr Khosa said during the colonial era, political assistant to tribal area was bound to learn Balochi language to understand Baloch culture and norms, but the condition was abolished later.

Regarding security in the tribal areas, he said all passes would be guarded by the people of the tribes concerned and the government would pay ‘Darra allowance’ to these guards, to check infiltration of unwanted elements from all sides. However, at present theft or snatching of motorbikes was rampant in the areas bordering Balochistan, he added.

About the gangs operating in the tribal areas, the chief of Khosa tribe said the issue of Laadi gang was a glaring example of negligence and partiality of the state machinery and a lack of an effective judicial infrastructure appropriate to Baloch culture and norms after abolishing of colonial Jirga system.

Explaining, he said Laadi and Dhore — two branches of Jiani clan of Khosa tribe — had been involved in bloody rivalry, but the issue remained unaddressed for at least a decade. He regretted that the state machinery, including Border Military Police and Punjab police, failed to effectively intervene in the matter that delayed justice delivery and led to establishment of gangs and brutality towards tribal rivals.

Pointing out a lack of development in the tribal areas, Mr Khosa said neither the government, nor the corporate entities running cement factories in the area played their mandatory role in the uplift of residents of Tuman Khosa.

“I had asked a business tycoon, having a huge industrial unit in the area, to at least establish a hospital and school and to provide employment and drinking water facility to the resident of Tuman Khosa, but to no avail,” he said.

The tribal chief said nobody could challenge the writ of the government, until its functionaries themselves condone lawlessness.

He suggested establishment of a judicial system appropriate to Baloch culture and norms and overhauling of the Border Military Police through fresh recruitment and equipping the force with modern security gadgets and weapons to check lawlessness in the tribal areas.

Published in Dawn, June 30th, 2021