A New Council for Women Fights for Justice in Pakistan

It’s been a year now, but Jan Bano still can’t get over the loss of her daughter.

16-year-old Tahera was killed by her husband with acid.

“Half of her ear and her stomach were completely burnt. Her hands were shrivelled up. Her body was turned into something like baked meat.”

Tahera’s face was destroyed and so was her upper body. Before she passed away, she recorded a video testimony.

“In a video recorded on a mobile phone, my daughter said ‘Please burn them like they have burnt me...’ But we are helpless and poor and can’t do anything. May Allah burn them.”

In the video, Tahera also said that she was forced to lie about the incident to the police.

Jan Bano went to the police with the video recording, but nothing was done.

With the help of women’s rights activists, protests were held to highlight her plight and the police finally registered the case against Tahera’s husband.

The case has now gone to court, but it could take years to reach a verdict.

To speed up the case, Jan Bano needs the support of a local jirga – or a council of male tribal elders.

Jan Bano went to ask for their support, but the all-male jirga refused to listen to her case.

Then she found hope in an all women-jirga founded last year by female activist Tabassum Adnan.

“Working in this community made me realize that men never bother about women’s issues and they can’t understand the real issues facing women. That’s why I decided to form a women’s jirga.”

But in conservative Pashtun society, it is only the men who make the key decisions.

”These women should be grateful that they haven’t been beaten with sticks for organising a women’s jirga,” says Zahid Khan, chairman of the men’s jirga in Swat Valley.

“It’s dishonoring Pasthun culture. Women are not authorized at all to have their own jirga.”

But despite several death threats, Tabassum Adnan remains committed. 

“I was not afraid because I’m doing positive work and I feel happy. It should be clear to men now that women will not be subdued anymore by their decisions in this male-dominated society.”

So far the women’s jirga has resolved 11 disputes relating to domestic issues.

They have helped 55-year old Bibi Hanifa who was evicted without notice from her rented house.

After the jirga intervened, the landlord finally gave her more time to find a new home.

“Men’s jirgas can’t do anything good for women. In Swat, women can’t talk to men. But with the women’s jirga, I can now speak for my rights. It is because of the women’s jirga. Now it is our time.”

Members of the women’s jirga regularly gather at Tabassum Adnan’s home to discuss cases they are dealing with.

“I’m not educated but I’m experienced in resolving domestic issues. I’m sure we can resolve them better than the male jirga,” says Tahera Bashis, the jirga’s president.

“We even spend our own money to resolve issues, unlike the male jirga which gets some financial support from the disputing parties. I will do everything for the welfare of my society and women.”

A new development might speed up Jan Bano’s case, and her continuing struggle for justice for her daughter.

A senior member of the men’s jirga, Syed Inaam-ur-Rahman, came to the women’s jirga office to show his support for the case.

“I agree with Tabassum and her jirga. I support her in Tahera’s case and would like the government to punish the culprit. We should work together to create awareness among people of women’s rights.”

The male jirga will help the investigation into Jan Bano’s case by gathering more evidence into
her daughter’s murder.

And the women’s jirga will send the video testimony to the Chief Justice of Pakistan.

The court hearing is due this November.