By Fakhar-e-Alam BAJAUR, August 2 (APP)::On a warm summer morning in Bajaur tribal district, Muhammad Anwarullah walks through a two-acre piece of farmland surrounded by olive trees. The land, once a symbol of disagreement within his family, now represents something far more meaningful reconciliation, understanding and the restoration of relationships. For years, an inheritance dispute over the farmland created distance among relatives, caused …
Bridging tradition and Justice: ADR brings hope and peace to KP’s tribal communities
By Fakhar-e-Alam
BAJAUR, August 2 (APP)::On a warm summer morning in Bajaur tribal district, Muhammad Anwarullah walks through a two-acre piece of farmland surrounded by olive trees. The land, once a symbol of disagreement within his family, now represents something far more meaningful reconciliation, understanding and the restoration of relationships.
For years, an inheritance dispute over the farmland created distance among relatives, caused emotional distress and weakened bonds that had been built over generations. Instead of allowing the matter to continue for years, Anwarullah Salarzai and his relatives chose the path of dialogue through the Alternative Dispute Resolution (ADR) mechanism.
The decision brought a change that went beyond resolving a disagreement. It helped heal emotional wounds and brought family members closer once again.
“It was the first time all sides sat together in a peaceful environment and felt that they were truly heard,” Anwarullah, 55, recalled with a smile. “The matter was resolved through understanding, and more importantly, we became a family again,” he told APP.
Anwarullah’ s experience reflects a quiet transformation taking place across Khyber Pakhtunkhwa, particularly in the province’s seven merged tribal districts, where ADR is offering communities a new way to address disputes through dialogue, patience and mutual respect.
In a region known for its breathtaking mountains, rich cultural traditions and resilient communities, ADR is emerging as a bridge between traditional methods of reconciliation and modern approaches to resolving differences. It is helping people find solutions that are accessible, peaceful and closer to their
communities.
For generations, disputes in the former tribal areas were often addressed through traditional jirga systems, where elders played a central role in bringing people together through discussion and consensus. While these traditions helped maintain social harmony, changing times highlighted the need for greater transparency, fairness and wider participation.
The merger of the former Federally Administered Tribal Areas (FATA) with Khyber Pakhtunkhwa in 2018 marked a new phase for the region. Alongside formal institutions, community-based reconciliation mechanisms were strengthened to provide people with more opportunities to resolve local issues peacefully.
In Bajaur, the ADR forum was established in July 2023, providing a platform where community members can discuss and settle matters with the support of elders and respected representatives.
Members of ADR Bajaur, including tribal elders Malik Abdul Aziz Khan, Malik Sultan Zeb, Malik Mohammad Ayaz Khan and Mufti Hanifullah Jan, said the true strength of mediation lies in preserving
relationships.
“ADR is not only about finding solutions; it is about protecting bonds between people,” they said. “When families and neighbours come together through dialogue, they leave with understanding instead of lasting bitterness.”
Senior lawyer Asif Yousafzai described ADR as an important development for the region, saying it provides communities with a practical way to address issues while strengthening confidence in justice-related systems.
He said mediation councils established under provincial frameworks bring together elders, community members and representatives to encourage peaceful solutions based on mutual agreement and respect.
Retired Judge Rashid Khan, considered one of the pioneers of ADR in the province, believes the model successfully combines the strengths of traditional reconciliation with modern principles of fairness and accountability.
“Our aim is to bring together the wisdom of local customs with systems that ensure transparency and trust,” he said.
He added that ADR is especially valuable in remote areas where distance, financial difficulties and limited resources can create challenges for ordinary people seeking solutions.
“Dialogue creates understanding, while confrontation creates distance,” Rashid Khan said, adding that reconciliation mechanisms can strengthen peace, tolerance and coexistence in communities.
The growing importance of mediation has also encouraged institutions to invest in training and awareness programmes. Experts believe strengthening professional skills and community participation will further improve the effectiveness of ADR.
Officials and legal experts, however, emphasize that maintaining public trust requires neutrality, transparency and equal participation. They believe the success of ADR depends on ensuring that every member of society has a voice in the process.
Women’ s participation remains an important area requiring greater attention. Rakhshanda Naz, Ombudsperson for Protection of Women Against Harassment at Workplace, said women should have stronger representation in reconciliation forums so their experiences and concerns can become part of community decisions.
“When women participate in these processes, solutions become more balanced and communities become stronger,” she said.
For people like Anwarullah, ADR represents much more than a method of resolving disagreements. It represents the possibility of forgiveness, healing and rebuilding relationships that once seemed difficult to restore.
As Khyber Pakhtunkhwa’s merged districts continue their journey of development, ADR is becoming a symbol of hope where conversations replace divisions, understanding replaces distance and communities work together for peaceful solutions.
Its long-term success will depend on fairness, inclusivity, and trust. If these values remain at the center, ADR can continue to become a powerful tool for strengthening harmony and bringing peaceful resolutions closer to the doorsteps of communities.
