Agricultural Land Ownership Disputes and its Effects on Social Structure in Pakhtun Society

Abstract

The present study was conducted in District Malakand of Khyber Pakhtunkhwa in order to assess the effects of land ownership disputes on social structure. Multiple Logistic Regression Model was used to determine the relationship between social structure as the dependent variable and the role of formal institutions, informal institutions, social relationships, and land commercialization as independent variables. Using the Mwakaje (2013) technique, a sample size of 128 respondents was selected from 291 respondents from the civil suit/1 record of Tehsil Dargai. The respondents were chosen using convenience sampling as a method. The model was overall significant as the P-value of Chi-square was statistically significant (P=0. 000) at the 5 percent significance level. A significant relationship was found between land commercialization and its effects on social structure (P=0.04), which is less than 0.05. However, the other variables had no significant relationship with the dependent variable. It is concluded that land commercialization had more effects on social structure as compared to the other variables in causing disputes of ownership over the land. The study recommended that the computerization of land records and creating awareness in people through sound strategies regarding usurping others’ rights in the light of prevalent laws, while taking support from Islamic Sharia are the best solutions to the problem.