Chitralis and Nizam-e-Adl regulation - Letter

Apropos Sadia Qasim Shah's write-up, (Dawn 23.2.09), I would like to clarify the matter of acceptance or otherwise regarding Nizam-e-Adl regulation by the Ismailis of Chitral. I do not want to bracket the Ismailis with Kalash minority of Chitral, rather I shall treat them separately. As a policy Ismailis never violate any law promulgated by any government any where in the world; they never indulge themselves individually or collectively in controversies like this, therefore I believe that Sardar Hussain and Sirajul Mulk are not speaking the minds of ismailis.
As a reality on ground, the Ismaili community has shown its acceptance to Nizam-e- Adl and Sharia law over the past many centuries in Chitral when their disputes were settled by Mizan-e- Sharia in the former state of Chitral. After the merger od state in 1969 the Ismailis took an initiative and established their own reconciliation and arbitration boards to settle their disputes out of court and the system is still in place. This parallel system shows that Ismailis were not happy with the legal procedure before Nizam-e-Adle regulation. So there is no remote chance of any disagreement on the Nizam-e- Adl regulation 2009, by the people of Chitral.
The writer has also mentioned Kalash minorities. A Kalash leader, Bachara Khan requested Gen. Fazle Haq in July 1981 to appoint him as a Judge. Gen. Fazle Haq asked, “How can you be a Judge? Bachara khan said, “I can dispose of cases like your Judge does in his office, I shall defer every case for next hearing and the process will go on”.
Bachara Khan is still active and he will accept Sharia as alternative to the present system.

Dr. Inayatullah Faizi
Balim, Chitral.