Interventions of tribal councils or jirgas affecting the lives and rights of men and women in Pakistan are not rare and the state’s acquiescence or complicity in such practices has frequently been reported. In the context of studying human rights violations perpetrated against girls and women in the name of “honour”, Amnesty International learned about the functioning of the tribal justice system of Pakistan. This paper sets out how the system functions, describes its underlying principles and how those administering it and those in the official justice system view its advantages and disadvantages.
