Afghan [Zazi Maidan] District Makes Own Peace

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IWPR, 20 January 2014

Residents say a local arrangement governed by "nerkh", part of customary law, has kept the peace in the district "to an extent rare in other parts of the country", IWPR reports. Although Zazi Maidan "shares a border with the restive northwest of Pakistan, people here say they are able to work and travel without fear of attack. Local jirgas have agreed "that no one is to support or assist insurgent groups, criminals and the like, on pain of serious penalties. Under nerkh, the community can burn down the offender’s home, confiscate livestock, impose a substantial fine of 2,000 US dollars, and ostracise him".