UMERKOT: A jirga held in Dhengaan Bhurgari village in Kot Ghulam Mohammad taluka on Friday settled a blood feud between Marri and Lanjwani clans, which had claimed three lives in four years, by imposing a total of Rs21 million fine on both parties.

Members of Lanjwani clan had reportedly killed Mir Mohammad Marri during an incident of theft four years ago, and the Marri clan avenged the death of their community fellow by killing Aslam Lanjwani and Khan Mohammad Lanjwani two years ago.

The jirga led by a local leader of Pakistan Peoples Party, Arif Khan Bhurgari and his deputies Rafiq Bhurgari and Nadeem Bhurgari, found members of Marri clan guilty of murdering Aslam Lanjwani and Khan Mohammad Lanjwani, and Lanjwani clansmen guilty of killing Mir Mohammad Marri. Hence, it imposed Rs14 million fine on Marri clan for the murders of two men and Rs7 million on Lanjwanis for killing one man.

The Marri clansmen waived Rs3.5 million of what Lanjwanis were to pay them and in return Lanjwanis waived Rs4 million of what they had to give to Marris. Later, Lanjwanis paid Rs500,000 of the fine and vowed to pay the remaining Rs3 million soon, and the Marris paid Rs1 million cash and promised to clear Rs9 million fine shortly, said sources.

According to the jirga verdict, both the parties agreed to withdraw cases they had filed in courts against each other and visit families of the deceased to seek pardon.

The Lanjwanis had nominated Misri Marri, Mohammad Ali Marri, Nabo Marri and an unidentified man in the case after the murder of two fellow clansmen. Mohammad Ali Marri was later released on bail, while Misri and Nabo were still at large.

In the case filed by Marri clansmen, Hamid Lanjwani, Akbar Lanjwani and Bakhshal Lanjwani were nominated but they were acquitted by a court.

Members of both the clans embraced each other in an expression of reconciliation and peace after the two sides accepted the jirga verdict.

Tribal chieftain Sobho Khan Marri, Khan Muhammad alias Khano Marri, Saifal Marri, and Sohrab Marri represented the Marri community and chieftain Akbar Lanjwani, Nazar Mohammad Lanjwani and Muhib Lanjwani spoke for Lanjwani community.

Published in Dawn, October 12th, 2024