SC declares panchayat, jirga system as illegal
After merging in KP, FATA Interim Regulation are discriminatory and unconstitutional
ISLAMABAD (Dunya News) – Supreme Court on Wednesday declared Panchayat and Jirga system as illegal.
A two-member bench of the apex court headed by Chief Justice of Pakistan (CJP) Justice Mian Saqib Nisar and comprises of Justice Ijazul Hassan announced its verdict on petitions of National Commission for Women and Khyber Pakhtunkhwa government.
The judgement said the Panchayati and Jirga system is a violation of Article 4, 6, 8 10(a), 25, and 175(a) and international agreements.
The decision further directed the law-enforcement agencies to keep an eye on Panchayat and Jirga and also directed to take action against those holding Jirga and its facilitators.
The court remarked that in order to eradicate the menace of jirgas/panchayats etc. in Pakistan, stringent and immediate action needs to be taken to the extent that they assume the power to adjudicate on criminal or civil disputes without being guided by any law and sometimes even without reasoned evidence or hearing the accused.
The verdict stated that after merging in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa, FATA Interim Regulation are discriminatory and unconstitutional.
The court also declared the already banned FATA Interim Regulation by the Peshawar High Court (PHC) contradictory to the constitution.
