A jirga (sometimes spelt jirgah) (Pashto / Urdu: جرګه) is a tribal meeting of elders. The meeting makes decisions by consensus. It is mainly the Pashtun people who have theses meetings - but other people who live near the Pashtun also have these meetings to settle disputes. They are most common in Afghanistan and among the Pashtun in Pakistan near its border with Afghanistan.
Jirga
Questions and Answers
Q: What is a jirga?
A: A jirga is a tribal meeting of elders that makes decisions by consensus.
Q: Who usually participates in a jirga?
A: It is mainly the Pashtun people who participate in a jirga, but other people who live near the Pashtun also have these meetings to settle disputes.
Q: Where are jirgas most common?
A: Jirgas are most common in Afghanistan and among the Pashtun in Pakistan near its border with Afghanistan.
Q: What is the purpose of a jirga?
A: The purpose of a jirga is to settle disputes by coming to a decision through consensus of the elders who participate.
Q: Does every tribe have jirgas?
A: Not every tribe has jirgas, but they are common among the Pashtun people and those who live near them.
Q: Can decisions made in a jirga be overturned?
A: Decisions made in a jirga are often respected and implemented by the members of the tribe, although they can be challenged in a court of law.
Q: Are jirgas still held today?
A: Yes, jirgas are still held today in certain parts of Afghanistan and Pakistan where the Pashtun people continue to uphold their traditional customs and practices.