Jirga: A Historical Institute

Abstract

Jirga is one of the primitive dispute settlement mechanisms widely used in many parts of South Asia, including Balochistan. The mechanism has been differently utilized with the perspective of every culture. Likewise, in Balochistan, Jirga was flexibly turned with the social and cultural norms of the Baloch. Most of the literature on the topic covers a different aspect of the conception of the Jirga. This study aims to examine the effectiveness of the jirga system in the tribal society. A qualitative and narrative based approach is used to address the issue in question. This study also discusses a general outlook of the Balochi Jirga, which has rarely been the subject of previous research. The paper shows that Balochi Jirga has long roots back. Still, it gained momentum with the establishment of feudalism in Balochistan, and later, Sandeman's policy turned it in favour of the English administrators. However, today it still exists as an informal judicial mechanism with no state sanction and resembles a modern-day mediator. It is recommended to the higher authorities to promote the jirga system around the country where the tribal system exist because it is more effective than the other judicial system because of its effective and timely decisions.