Smilani Tribe in Khuzdar Rejects Tribal Verdict Over Ancestral Land, Vows Legal Battle to Protect Property

Khuzdar:In a strongly worded press conference held in Khuzdar, senior elders and representatives of the Smilani tribe from the Nal Kodask area — including Qadir Dad Smilani, Syed Khan Smilani, Ghulam Nabi Smilani, Allah Bakhsh Smilani, Sufi Muhammad Umar, and others — categorically rejected a recent tribal verdict concerning their ancestral land.

The tribal elders asserted that they will never relinquish their land located in Kodask Shahol to any outsider under any circumstances. They accused Mulla Qasim Mullazai of issuing a biased and one-sided decision in Panjgur that excluded multiple stakeholders and favored one claimant, Muhammad Ali son of Rehmatullah, without due process.

“We were misled in the name of a Sharia-based decision,” the elders stated, alleging that despite possessing legal documents and historical land records in the names of their forefathers, the verdict was manipulated to favor one party. “Our land is our identity and heritage, and we will not surrender it to anyone.”

The Smilani elders further alleged that certain elements are attempting to seize their lands under the guise of tribal customs and rulings. They emphasized that the decision was made without their consent and is therefore unacceptable. A senior elder of the tribe told the media, “Our land is everything to us; it was inherited from our ancestors, and we are duty-bound to protect it.”

While expressing their willingness to engage in any fair and legal procedure to resolve the dispute, the tribe firmly rejected any pressure, coercion, or unjust decisions. Citizens who joined the press conference also voiced concerns and pledged to raise their voices on every possible platform to protect their rights.

The tribe called upon the district administration and Balochistan’s provincial government to immediately intervene and ensure the protection of the Smilani tribe’s legitimate land rights. A representative of the tribe explained that the dispute has been ongoing and that external actors are using tribal decisions as a tool to illegally occupy the land.

In conclusion, the Smilani elders declared their unity and commitment to a peaceful and legal struggle. They warned that they will take all necessary legal steps, including going to court, to safeguard their ancestral land.