Pashtunwali as a Defence System

Serrishta

Lashkar

Badraga(Tribal Escort)

Badrage is the escort that accompanies a traveler through tribal territory. If a stranger, say a resident of the Kohat District, has an occasion to visit Miran Shah or Razmak (North Waziristan Agency). To protect himself from injury to his person or property, he takes with him escort from the tribe through whose territory he passes, and is then safe from any harm, as the violation of Badraga gives rise to feud. A badraga may consists of a single man or more who are generally armed. The escort is paid by the man requiring it according to the distance traveled. An escort will take a traveler safely though the limits of his own, as well as of any other tribe, with which their section is on good terms. When a person is under the badraga of a tribe not concerned in the matter, then his enemy will not harm him. If harm is done to him, then the badraga considers it a harm to themselves. In every tribal Agency, the political Agent, provides such a badraga to guests entering into his jurisdiction.

Salweshti(Tribal Force)

It is a body of forty tribesmen. Its members are selected from different sections or khels on the basis of nikat.25 This is a force raised by the tribe on a voluntry basis to deal with any eventuality regarding a concreted action.26 Its aims and purposes to help the government implements its polices and to start work on self help basis whenever occasion demands.

During war or Jihad the salweshti calls the fighting youths from each house to join the team for the purpose. A certain member for each family volunteer to form a tribal force which then proceeds to act in conformity with the Jirgas decisions and orders used by the Qaumi-Jarnel (Tribal General). The sancitity of action by member of salwaeshti is respected and no retaliation is allowed or penalty imposed on any members of the tribe, there have been several instances where salwashtia have burnt houses, inflicted sever injuries and even death on members of the same tribe, but their action has not led to community or individual feuds. Some salweshtis are employed to prevent murders and other heinous offences on main roads and in Tehsil Headquarters.

Mlatar (Patrons)

Mla Tarr, which literally means `girding up of loins' denotes two things. Firstly it is used for all such members of a family who are capable of carrying and using firearms. If for instance, some one says that "A" has a Mla Tarr of ten men, it would mean that "A" can furnish an armed party of ten men usually consisting of his sons grandsons or close relatives. Secondly, it means espousing the cause of a man against his enemies and providing him with an armed party. The tribesmen resort to Mla Tarr when a person belonging to their village or tribe is attacked, mal-treated or disgraced by their enemies.

Chagha (Call for Action)

This is also a body of Qaumi lashkar raised spontaneously on the occasion of dacoity, robbery, lifting away of cattle and other offences of the sort. A man announces a message either by drum beat or other wise, to inform the people around, who come out of their houses, fully armed, and chase the offenders.

Soolah (Conciliation)

Rogha (Reconcialition)

Rogha means settlement of a dispute between warring factions.