Islamic law will be introduced into a region of Pakistan as part of a bid to stop the spreading Taliban insurgency.
Authorities in Pakistan have agreed with Taliban and Islamist militants to introduce Sharia law to replace Pakistan’s secular laws in the Swat District, a known militant stronghold.
The agreement will lead to enforcement of the Islamic Sharia law by a leading outlawed pro-Taliban group in the region headed by Sufi Mohammad.
President Asif Ali Zardari approved the deal under which all un-Islamic provisions in the existing legal system will be outlawed.
Pakistan’s provincial government has defended the decision by saying it was not made under pressure from extremist forces and is not unconstitutional.
The mountainous Pakistani region of Swat has seen intense fighting between Taliban insurgents and security forces since 2007.
The Taliban violence in the area has forced thousands of residents to flee to safer areas, with militants destroying nearly 200 girls’ schools in the scenic valley as part of their Sharia enforcement policy.
The strict version of Islam prohibits female education.