Islamic Sharia law will be implemented in Malakand Division of NWFP within next three months, NWFP government after negotiations with local Taliban leadership of Swat has announced its decision on Monday, NWFP government have also decided to provide monetary compensation to the victims of Pakistan’s Security forces action in Swat, all police stations will be reopened in Swat and Taliban militants will abstain from show of arms and patrolling in the area. Peace agreement between Taliban and NWFP government will remain intact.
Imposition of Sharia law in economically impoverished Malakand Division is a hasty decision, prior to imposition of welfare aspect of Islam imposition of Sharia law will be meaningless and will pave the way for further anarchy in this area, in Saudi Arab Sharia Laws are implemented but welfare aspect of Islam is also taken into consideration, rich Saudi government distribute its oil revenues in Saudi Public and in turn impose harsh punishments on those whom are committing crimes despite of fulfillment of their economic needs.
People in Malakand division are living in conditions of extreme poverty and ignorance economic uplift through implementation of welfare aspect of Islam prior to imposition of Sharia Law will be a prudent option, besides Taliban militants if opt for participation in electoral process to get majority support in Malakand division will be in a better position to impose Islamic Laws, armed Taliban minority if have succeeded to implement laws of its own choice with agreement of democratically elected government of NWFP upon majority of the residents of Malakand division it will be a great setback for Awami National Party Government in NWFP, ANP is popular because of its democratic and nonviolent stance in domain of politics in Pakistan, if its leadership is cowed down by armed minority of Taliban militants of Swat it will not be a good omen for future of democracy in Pakistan.
Armed minorities are already challenging government writ in tribal areas adjacent to NWFP province of Pakistan by establishing parallel governments, Pukhtoon tradition of unanimous decisions in meeting of council of elders is already violated in Khyber Agency at least five militant groups alone in Khyber Agency are involved in power struggle to impose their own brands of Islam in Khyber Agency. Democratically elected representatives in provincial and National Assembly of Pakistan are the real spokesman of the people of Malakand Division and rest of the tribal areas, they are elected through majority vote and are in a better position to promote the aspirations of their voters.
In India dacoit Weerapan and female dacoit Pholan Devi were unable to cow down the elected governments of their respective regions though both have ruled for years and police was unable to get hold of them but eventually both were killed, reality of Taliban militants and pro Taliban religious political parties of Pakistan is much of the same harbingers of Taliban ideology living within settled areas immediately start charging taxes from their neighbors the moment Taliban militants start dominating the scene, in one such incident a ten year old Taliban boy in Kohat district had demanded ten rupees as tax money from his fellow student in evening madrassa as precondition for attending the mosque for him. The said child involved in extortion of money is grandson of a senior member of Jamat I Islami in Kohat district.
Dacoits in disguise of Islamic militants are spreading their tentacles in Pakistan, in absence of fair and transparent system of government people are loosing trust in ability of government machinery regarding redress of their genuine grievances, immediate steps to improve the situation if not taken by elected representatives, soon the armed minorities will start dictating their terms in shape of peace agreements with government already large scale extortion activity is underway in settled areas of Pakistan militants are not only surviving on extortion money but are maintaining high standards of living for themselves.
Submitted by
Abdur Raziq
Blog: raziq1.blogspot.com