Women's Exclusion From Jirgas Against Justice And Shariah: Tabassum Adnan

Social activist Tabassum Adnan has said that formally including women in the jirga system is the need of the hour, as women are better aware of their own issues and challenges.

She demanded that women be given representation in the District Resolution Council (DRC) and urged the district administration to ensure immediate implementation of this decision.

Tabassum Adnan stated that in tribal and underdeveloped areas, women face severe difficulties in obtaining their basic rights. Due to the lack of female representation in forums such as jirgas and DRCs, their issues are often resolved in a one-sided manner, which goes against justice and Islamic teachings.

She emphasized that Islam has granted women clear rights, including dignity, inheritance, opinion, and the right to mehr (dower), and no one has the authority to restrict these rights.

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She also expressed serious concerns over a recent jirga decision in Bajaur, saying that fixing women's mehr at one tola of gold is unjust.

According to her, under Islamic Shariah, mehr is the personal right of a woman and should be determined according to her free will and consent, without any coercion or social pressure.

The founder of Pakistan's first women's jirga further said that it has become common practice in society for men or family elders to decide the amount of mehr, which is not only illegal but also a violation of women's fundamental and religious rights.

Criticizing social attitudes, she added that if women are allowed to visit different centers for financial assistance, then labeling their participation in jirgas or other forums for their rights as immodest reflects a double standard.

She urged the government and district administration to ensure women's inclusion in order to make the jirga and DRC system more effective, just, and in line with Islamic principles, so that women can have full access to justice.

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