The Hindu : Front Page : Military action looks likely in Swat district

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Monday, May 04, 2009
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Military action looks likely in Swat district

Nirupama Subramanian

Tussle over Sharia courts pact
Curfew in Mingora after Taliban moves in

ISLAMABAD: Militants in Swat rejected the setting up of a Sharia appeals courts by the North-West Frontier Province government in the region in line with a February agreement between both sides on Sunday, raising the likelihood of military action in the troubled district.

A military operation is under way in neighbouring Buner to evict the Taliban after their successful grab of the district. A military spokesman said on Sunday the operation was proceeding smoothly, placing the number of militants killed so far at 80. Three soldiers of the Frontier Corps have been killed and eight injured.

Earlier, the military said it had taken back control of Dir, another district into which the Taliban had advanced from Swat. But the military and the government are holding off operations in Swat, with both saying they want to give the Sharia courts agreement a chance to work, despite clear signs that the militants are no longer interested in it.

The decision to hold back operations in Swat and moves to operationalise the sharia courts appear to be a government strategy to expose the militants in the eyes of the people — the majority in Swat back the setting up of the courts in the hope that they will provide speedy justice and gain popular backing for a military operation in the district.

Late on Saturday, NWFP Information Minister Mian Ifthikar Hussein announced the setting up of a Sharia appeal court for Malakand, a region comprising seven districts including Swat.

The setting up of the Darul Qaza, which is to act as the final court of appeal for the district Sharia courts, was promised by the government in its February agreement with Sufi Mohammed, the leader of a Taliban-allied group called Tehreek-e-Nifas-e-Sharia- Mohammadi.

The Minister also announced the appointment of two qazis to this court, and said they had been chosen in conformity with the requirements laid down by Sufi Mohammed that their physical appearance and conduct should be in accordance with the Sharia.

“Now that we have fulfilled the demand of Maulana Sufi Mohammed for making the Darul Qaza functional, he should now fulfil his commitment of persuading the armed groups to lay down their weapons,” he said.

But Sufi Mohammed, who apparently wanted the bigger role in making the appointments, has rejected the government’s move. A spokesman for the TNSM chief told journalists that Sufi was not consulted in the appointments. The militants also want the military to halt the Buner operations. A Taliban spokesman was quoted by AFP saying they would not accept a decision that was being thrust on them under the “shadow of a military operation”.

In Mingora, the main town in Swat, the government ordered a 9 p.m. to 6 a.m. curfew on Sunday after groups of Taliban moved in to several areas, as if to occupy the town. Local residents reported seeing Taliban patrolling several main roads on Sunday evening, brandishing their weapons.

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