In a chilling revelation, the head of an illegal jirga that ordered the killing of a married woman in Rawalpindi’s Pirwadhai area has confessed to orchestrating and personally carrying out the murder, police said on Thursday.

According to a newly registered FIR, Ismatullah, the self-declared jirga leader, made startling admissions during police interrogation, claiming he killed his cousin Sidra in accordance with a so-called community decision. 

The murder, allegedly committed in the name of honor, has sparked widespread outrage and raised fresh questions over the continuing role of extrajudicial jirgas in criminal acts.

Ismatullah told investigators he had entered the home of Sidra’s husband, Usman, in Muzaffarabad carrying a weapon, and forcibly brought Sidra to Rawalpindi at gunpoint. 

Acting on what he called a “baradari decision,” he shot and killed her and buried the body in a local graveyard during the night between July 16 and 17.

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He further confessed that several accomplices were present at the time of the killing, including men named Saleh Muhammad and Amani Gul.

Police say Ismatullah not only admitted to the murder but also disclosed details about the murder weapon, leading to the recovery of a Kalashnikov rifle. The suspect failed to produce a valid license for the firearm, resulting in a separate case under illegal arms possession.

The shocking case came to light after authorities discovered the woman’s body buried secretly, prompting a full-scale investigation. 

The revelations have reignited criticism of the illegal jirga system, which continues to operate in parts of Pakistan despite being outlawed by the courts.

Legal experts and rights activists have called for swift justice and accountability, warning that such parallel justice mechanisms pose a direct threat to rule of law and human rights, especially for women.

Police say further arrests are expected as investigations continue.