Nawabshah Clan Feud

Zain Shah’s Key Role in Amicably Settling Nawabshah Clan Feud

Nawabshah: The Zardari and Bhand clans of Nawabshah have finally reached an amicable settlement over a tragic attack that resulted in the deaths of five Bhand clan members and a police inspector, leaving another ten wounded on February 12, 2022.

The attack, carried out by Zardari clansmen near Qazi Ahmed town, stemmed from a dispute over a 390-acre piece of land near the district’s riverine area. The incident led to a significant outcry from the Bhand clan and the local Mallah community, who staged a protest that blocked the Qazi Ahmed section of the National Highway for four consecutive days.

Protests extended to other parts of the province, with the Sindh United Party (SUP) joining the campaign, claiming the Bhand clan as its supporters. The campaign lasted several weeks.

Subsequently, both sides agreed to resolve the matter through a jirga. Intense negotiations followed, culminating in a settlement announced on Friday evening, May 10, 2024. SUP President Syed Zain Shah, at his residence in Majeed Keerio village, declared the resolution.

Key figures in the negotiations included Syed Zain Shah and Pakistan Peoples Party leader Ashiq Hussain Zardari, whose efforts were pivotal in reaching an agreement. According to Mr. Shah, acting as the ‘Ameen’ (trustee) in the negotiations, the Zardari clan consented to pay a total of Rs50 million and hand over more than 50 acres of land in compensation.

The settlement terms detailed by Mr. Shah include Rs7 million for each of the five deaths and 10 acres of land to the family of each deceased. Additionally, Rs2.5 million will be paid to each seriously wounded person, and Rs500,000 to each slightly wounded person. The Zardari clan also agreed to pay Rs10 million in legal expenses to the Bhand clan, though the latter waived off these legal costs.

Ashiq Hussain Zardari represented the Zardari clan in the negotiations, while Khamiso Khan Bhand and Haji Khan Bhand represented the Bhand clan.

Syed Zain Shah expressed gratitude to the negotiators and both clans for their trust and cooperation in reaching a peaceful settlement.

The attack on February 12, 2022, involved Zardari clansmen asserting their claim over the 390-acre land, leading to a confrontation that resulted in the deaths of Ayaz, Mashooq, Saban, Akmal, and Sher Mohammed from the Bhand clan, and police inspector Hameed Khoso. Ten others were injured.

The SUP, alongside other political parties and nationalist groups, voiced strong opposition to the attack, visiting the protest camp to show solidarity with the Bhands.

Throughout the four-day highway blockade, efforts to resolve the protest involved prominent figures such as Home Minister Ziaul Hassan Lanjar and MPA Ghulam Qadir Chandio, with district administration and provincial government officials attending multiple rounds of talks.

This settlement marks a significant step towards peace and resolution between the two clans, demonstrating the effectiveness of traditional conflict resolution methods in addressing deep-seated disputes.

Published in Dawn, May 12th, 2024

Source: Dawn