A village in Buner has set out a new 20-point social reform agenda to make life easier for the community and bring it more in line with Islamic values.

Molvi Aleem Syed told Aaj Digital that the reforms had been brought to bring an improvement in how social gatherings are attended and observed in the community.

The biggest rule laid by the jirga is that it will be compulsory to give women the inheritance that has been specified for them in Islam.

The jirga has decided that no one in the village will be allowed to demand furniture or electronic appliances as dowry from the bride’s family at the time of marriage. However, the family can provide cash money to their daughter if they can afford it see it fit.

It has also been decided that people visiting a couple after marriage to give their best wishes will not be allowed to give Rs100 per person. The jirga has also decided that only tea and biscuits will be served to these guests.

According to custom, rice is often distributed in plastic bags after a walima or after charity events. The jirga has forbidden this practice. It has also been specified that more than 15 people should not be brought as part of the baraat. The jirga said that lavish wedding ceremonies should be avoided.

Rules have even been specified for deaths, funerals and sick visits. People visiting to check up on anyone who has fallen sick will not be allowed to bring anything with them.

Seeing the faces of anyone who has passed away for the last time will not allowed under the new law. In case young children under the age of one pass away, adult men and women will not be allowed to sit for fateha khwani. The jirga has also prohibited the practice of Eid day visits to people who recently lost loved ones or to the graves.

The jirga has announced that children under 14 years of age will not be allowed to drive a motorcycle and no students will be allowed to own smartphones. Anyone found selling drugs will be socially boycotted and no outsiders will be allowed inside the village.

The jirga members said that while the reforms are aimed at the general betterment of the community, a key aim was to give relief to the common man in economically difficult times.

Members said that the reform agenda had been prsented at time when most people were having difficulty in making ends meet and fulfilling social expectations related to many social events was beyond the reach of the members of the community. Religious scholars in the area have asked community leaders to make sure the new rules are implemented.

Many residents of the area told Aaj Digital that even if they decided not to comply with the new rules, they did not have any other option but to simplify their lives.