Weapons of Mass Destruction (WMD)

Pakistan Taliban extend activities

IRNA - Islamic Republic News Agency

Islamabad, April 23, IRNA -- Pakistani Taliban have extended their writ to other areas in the restive Swat valley and closed down regular courts, officials said.

Taliban have also asked judges to leave the area by Thursday and many have already left, they said.

A top cleric Sufi Muhammad, who had signed agreement with the government for setting up Islamic courts, had set April 23 for judges to leave Swat.

So the Taliban on Wednesday asked the judges to leave before the deadline is expired.

Locals said that Taliban are patrolling in Buner area, raising fears among the people.

Meanwhile Prime Minister Yusuf Raza Gilani said the government can “revisit” its decision on introduction of Islamic system in Swat, if peace was not restored in the area.

“If peace is not restored, one can rethink the idea,” the Prime Minister told mediapersons when asked about the government’s future strategy in view of the recently promulgated justice system known as ‘Nizam?e?Adl’ Regulation in Swat.

Prime Minister Gilani however, said that he was hopeful about the restoration of peace in the area. He termed the government’s agreement on Nizam?e?Adl as a “willful decision” taken in national interest.

He said the step respects the mandate of provincial government, which was seconded by the parliament through a unanimous resolution.

When asked to comment on statements by Tehreek?e?Nifaz?e?Shariat’s leader terming country’s superior courts as “un?Islamic”, the Prime Minister said, “Sufi Muhammad’s views are of an individual,” adding he would not comment on it.

“There is a problem of terrorism and this menace can only be contained by all the political forces of the country who should join hands to confront it,” Gilani said.

Gilani said the government was studying the report prepared by the parliament’s committee on national security and would evolve a national policy after consultation with the four chief minister.