Back to a regressive order?

The federal government's proposal to revive the jirga system in the newly merged districts is being seen as a prelude to the restoration of the former tribal agencies' semi-autonomous status.

- 

There may not be any specific plan on the table yet to revert to the old order, but the prime minister's decision to form a committee headed by the Federal Minister for Kashmir Affairs and Gilgit-Baltistan to look into the matter has raised serious concerns.

A recent meeting of the committee members, comprising mostly federal government officials, stressed the need to revive the jirga system in the districts.

According to media reports, ways were discussed to promote an effective alternative justice system in the former tribal districts.

The jirga system, a traditional form of conflict resolution, was abolished after the merger of the seven tribal agencies in 2018 through the 25th Constitutional Amendment.