Women fight for their right

 The Constitution of Pakistan and international law guarantee to women the fundamental rights to life, liberty, security, and dignity. Unfortunately, however, these women's rights have been severely violated by the parallel justice system, which includes jirgas and panchayats. Surprisingly, members of jirgas and panchayats are permitted to exercise unlimited authority without being held accountable. Women were recently prohibited from calling the local radio station and going to the Sada-e-Aman Center by a local jirga of tribal elders in the Wara region of Mamond tehsil in Bajaur district.

Under the government's policy, women who deliver children are eligible for a cash grant at the Sada-e-Aman Centre.

The jirga said that a tribesman would be fined Rs 10,000 if he let his wife call the radio station or go to the center. In a similar vein, in November, it was alleged that the jirga ordered the death of a Kohistani couple who had married in Karachi on their own accord. In another incident, in September of last year in Karachi, a girl, 15, and a boy, 17, were reportedly electrocuted by their families in accordance with the orders of a jirga. These are the most recent developments in the ongoing story of such heinous decrees issued by the nation's unconstitutional parallel judicial system.

In addition, Vani or Swara, the most common custom in rural Pakistan, is the practice of forcing girls into marriage as restitution for a crime committed by male relatives. In 2012, in order to settle a murder dispute between two clans in Baluchistan, 13 girls between the ages of four and sixteen were ordered to be married off.

By forming a jirga in the Swat district of Khyber Pakhtunkhwa, the women are making history. The Khwendo Jirga, a discussion for settling questions typically saved for men, is presently giving equivalent freedoms to guys and females in Smack, Khyber Pakhtunkhwa.

The Constitution of Pakistan and international law guarantee to women the fundamental rights to life, liberty, security, and dignity. Unfortunately, however, these women's rights have been severely violated by the parallel justice system, which includes jirgas and panchayats. Surprisingly, members of jirgas and panchayats are permitted to exercise unlimited authority without being held accountable. Women were recently prohibited from calling the local radio station and going to the Sada-e-Aman Center by a local jirga of tribal elders in the Wara region of Mamond tehsil in Bajaur district.

Under the government's policy, women who deliver children are eligible for a cash grant at the Sada-e-Aman Centre.

The jirga said that a tribesman would be fined Rs 10,000 if he let his wife call the radio station or go to the center. In a similar vein, in November, it was alleged that the jirga ordered the death of a Kohistani couple who had married in Karachi on their own accord. In another incident, in September of last year in Karachi, a girl, 15, and a boy, 17, were reportedly electrocuted by their families in accordance with the orders of a jirga. These are the most recent developments in the ongoing story of such heinous decrees issued by the nation's unconstitutional parallel judicial system.

In Swat, the Khwendo Jirga, a forum for resolving disputes that is typically reserved for men, is now giving men and women equal rights.

In addition, Vani or Swara, the most common custom in rural Pakistan, is the practice of forcing girls into marriage as restitution for a crime committed by male relatives. In 2012, in order to settle a murder dispute between two clans in Baluchistan, 13 girls between the ages of four and sixteen were ordered to be married off.

By forming a jirga in the Swat district of Khyber Pakhtunkhwa, the women are making history.

In Swat, Khyber Pakhtunkhwa, the Khwendo Jirga, a forum for resolving disputes normally reserved for men, now grants equal rights to men and women.25 women make up the first-of-its-kind women's council, which helps women solve problems at the local level and refers cases for free legal help.

Tabassum Adnan is a peace activist and the founder of the women's jirga in Swat. The council's mission is to empower women in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa's rural areas. She said that the women's jirga gives women power because they can get equality in social, political, and economic terms, as well as the right to a livelihood and freedom of speech. She stated, when discussing the concept of such a jirga, that women in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa have always been forced to accept the decisions of men. She went on to explain that the male jirga tradition, in which women are not represented, is still prevalent in the majority of places.

The recipient of the award stated that she succeeded in establishing the first-ever female Jirga of Pakistan in the Swat district after raising her voice against this inhuman act of men. When asked about the forum's legality, she stated that she could speak out for the rights of women in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa from it.

She also mentioned that the Women Jirga is the first council of its kind, and that it was registered in 2014 under the name Khwendo Jirga. The lobbyist further reviewed that numerous occurrences happened like removing the ladies' legs, corrosive tossing, cutting noses, and illegal exploitation, which prompted areas of strength for an authority stage.

She responded to a question posed by the women's jirga to facilitate self-reliance by promoting girls' education, health, nutrition, and well-being of newborns and pregnant women. The human rights advocate said that the jirga also made it possible for local self-governance, made sure that natural resources were managed, and helped women advocate for their rights in a society that is dominated by men. She responded, "Yes, there were a lot of threats and challenges she faced in the area, which was once a region of militancy and extremism," to the question of threats and challenges. She stated that even some women would ridicule her for her lofty goals when she started this jirga. She also informed me that she proudly continued my work in the hope that those who had previously ridiculed her would emulate her.

In the jirga, the social activist said, "I have been threatened, but I don't pay any heed to such threat because I know that I am doing something best for my gender to which I belong." She expressed her determination that the Khwendo Jirga looked forward to a progressive and sustainable society in which all women live happily, peacefully, and with dignity, despite threats and challenges.

The peace activist declared that she would keep fighting on behalf of the region's women. In order to achieve all of her objectives, she wanted a strong and concrete team.

In her concluding remarks, the head of the women's jirga stated that her goal was to strengthen this platform and provide services to the entirety of Khyber Pakhtunkhwa and the northern regions. In the man centric culture, debates are generally settled by a gathering of man older folks in the equal equity framework, which is known as the jirga.

This Jirga system has always been dominated by men, but in their female jirga in Swat, a group of women came forward. In Khyber Pakhtunkhwa, the jirga focused on criminal, traditional, customary, educational, environmental, peace-building, and women's rights justice. After getting married in the Swat district of Khyber Pakhtunkhwa, Maria Bibi, a Swat resident, encountered domestic violence.

The 20-year-old shared her story by means of a video shared via online entertainment and said that she was confronting dangers and torment from parents in law subsequent to getting a separation.

In a video, she claimed that she had three gold tolas that she had given her during the Nikkah, but that their in-laws now wanted them back.

She came to the women's jirga to file her complaint, claiming that she was receiving justice from the departments of law enforcement. She was encouraged by the women's jirga's belief that this would be the sole venue for us to be heard and for them to receive legal protection from the powerful.