A shocking incident has emerged from the Musakhel district of Balochistan, where a tribal jirga allegedly forced eight men to walk barefoot over burning embers to prove their innocence in a theft case.
The incident took place in the Kot Khan Muhammad union council after a local shopkeeper insisted on convening a jirga following a theft at his shop.According to local sources, the jirga members invoked an old tribal tradition and ordered the suspects to walk across burning coals as a test of innocence.
Remarkably, none of the eight men sustained injuries, after which the jirga declared all of them innocent.The district administration has taken serious notice of the illegal jirga proceedings.
Seven individuals have been nominated in the case for conducting an unlawful gathering and taking the law into their own hands.
Deputy Commissioner Musakhel, Abdul Razzaq Khajak, confirmed that one suspect has been arrested while efforts are underway to apprehend the remaining nominated individuals.He stated, No one can be allowed to take such actions in the name of tradition when state law exists. Such practices are unacceptable under any circumstance.
According to officials, although the incident occurred several days ago, it was not reported in time due to pressure from local influential figures. Initial investigations revealed that the jirga opted for the ember-walking ritual to determine the truth behind the theft allegations a practice ingrained in tribal customs but prohibited under Pakistani law.
This is not the first time such a disturbing event has occurred in Balochistan. Several cases have surfaced in previous years where individuals were forced to walk on burning embers to prove innocence in disputes or allegations.
A notable incident occurred in 2021 in the Sanjavi area of Ziarat, where two young men were compelled to undergo the same ritual to clear their names.Human rights activists have repeatedly criticized such practices, calling them dangerous, unlawful and a violation of basic human dignity.
