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India-Pakistan
Sufi sets deadline for Nizam-e-Adl implementation
2009-03-02
Swat cleric Sufi Muhammad -- who has promised peace in the troubled Swat valley if the government implanted the sharia law -- warned on Sunday he wanted Islamic courts set up in two weeks.

He said he was not happy over the fact that there had been no tangible progress since February 16 when the NWFP government agreed to implement the Shari Nizam-e-Adl -- a new system of justice in the restive valley.

"The government announced enforcement of sharia but so far no practical step has been taken and we are not satisfied," Sufi told reporters in Swat's main town Mingora.

"I'm not seeing any practical steps for the implementation of the peace agreement, except for ministers visiting Swat and uttering words," the elderly cleric said.

He said he was also unhappy over a delay in an exchange of prisoners and urged both the Taliban and the government to release people they were holding by March 10.

"If the government does not appoint Qazis [Islamic judges] by March 15, and the two sides do not release prisoners in their custody, we will set up protest camps," he said.

The warning came only four days after Swat Taliban leader Mullah Fazlullah agreed to an indefinite ceasefire.

The cleric said armed patrol by either side would not be allowed after March 1 (Sunday), and anybody who violated the truce would be charged and punished in line with the sharia law.

Attack: Later, Sufi's spokesman Ameer Izzat Khan blamed the security forces for an attack on a troop convoy in Swat earlier in the day. He said the soldiers had not given prior information of their movement in accordance with the terms of the truce.
Posted by:Fred

#1  I think even the DUMBEST politician in Pakistan realizes that implementation of Sharia means the end of their cushy non-jobs. Under Sharia, the holy men are in charge, not the "government". I think the "sharia" issue was agreed to similar to saying "nice doggy" when reaching for a bigger rock. Things could get VERY interesting in the Tribal Areas before this is all over.
Posted by: Old Patriot   2009-03-02 11:40  

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