Peshawar police have announced a total prohibition on private jirgas throughout the city. Officials warned that organisers of such gatherings, including those held at hotels and wedding halls, will face strict legal action.
Capital City Police Officer (CCPO) Mian Saeed said such assemblies would not be tolerated. Hotels and wedding halls found hosting them would also face action, and the premises would be sealed if a gathering took place there.
Weapons display and firing incident prompt ban
According to the CCPO, private jirgas in the city often involved the display of weapons, which raises security concerns. Police said the decision came after a recent firing incident at a hotel during a private jirga, in which two people were killed.
The jirga system is a traditional mechanism in which tribal elders and community leaders settle civil, criminal and communal disputes through consultation and consensus. Some jirga decisions, however, have drawn criticism for controversial rulings and practices that may violate the law and individual rights.
Badaber arrests over alleged gang rape settlement
In a related development, police in Peshawar’s Badaber area arrested three suspects on June 25, 2026, in connection with an alleged gang rape case. Several members of a local jirga who allegedly took part in settling the matter were also taken into custody.
Police said the jirga had reportedly decided that one of the accused would marry the victim, with compensation to be paid to her father. A dispute later arose over the payment, prompting the victim’s father to approach police. An FIR was registered and the suspects were arrested.
An initial investigation also revealed prior contact between the suspects and the victim, police said.
