Jirga

The particular feature of Pashtun society is the Jirga system through which they resolve the conflicts which also frequently erupt in their day today life. It has got deep roots and they Pashtuns hold the ritual in the present times with great reverence. If seen through the lens of history it shows that it existed in their code of conduct from times unknown. Even  before embracing Islam the Pashtuns were exercising this practice. When the Pashtuns eard of Muhammad (pbuh} they convened a Jirga whether to accept his religion or not. In the Jirga it was decided that their leader Qaiz Bin Abdurashid will go to Makkah to meet the prophet and investigate the veracity of his new religion. If it came through sound then they will accept otherwise they will have to go on their own way. Luckily, the new religion appealed to the good senses of Qaiz Bin Abdurashid and thus they collectively embraced the Islam according to the decision of the Jirga without any outside coercion or intimidation.

Similarly, the Pashtun also conduct their political affairs through grand Jirgas consisting of elders drawn from various tribes and clans. For example the Loyia Jirga of Afghanistan is the living example of the political nature of the Jirga. After the collapse of Taliban a grand jirga of the sages of the society wsas summoned to draft the constitution of the newly established democratic Afghanistan.

Furthermore, as there are no courts or judiciary system in the Tribal areas. The people run their affairs through the jirgas. Whenever, a matter of such important nature ever happen then the Tribal elders form a local jirga through which they settle their mutual disputes. Usually the elders consider the matters impartially and deliver the decision according to their best judgment and understanding. Taking side of a party not only earn bad name to him but his career also come to a close end and in the future such persons are rarely consulted or invited to Jirgas to participate in.