Restorative justice: Updating Jirga in NWFP Pakistan

These photos, taken in Mardan, 45 kilometers from the provincial
capital of Peshawar, show such relationship building. Malik Naveed
(pictured speaking at podium),is the top police official for the North
West Frontier Province (NWFP), one of the border areas gripped by the
“war on terror.”

Naveed not only appeared at this
Gohar-organized public gathering on February 2, 2010, he announced that
“reconciliation committees” would be meeting regularly with community
elders at each of the 17 police stations in Mardan. Naveed expressed
hope that “fear and terror about police officials in the hearts of the
people would be eradicated and trust and brotherhood restored in
society,” according to a report in a Pakistani newspaper.

This large public meeting – notably attended by women – reflects
Gohar’s efforts to see that all parties have a common understanding of
the principles of conflict transformation, jirga and restorative
justice. Each reconciliation committee is mandated to include three
women, an unprecedented step.

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