Pakistan Takes Steps Towards Shari'a State In Seven Districts

[roberto]

On May 11, 2008, the secular government in Pakistan's North West Frontier Province (NWFP) finalized a deal with the Taliban groups for the implementation of shari'a in the province's seven districts. The Pashtun nationalist government in the NWFP, which came to power last month, had vowed to talk to the Taliban in order to establish peace in the region. The talks were held between the government, Pakistani Taliban and the outlawed Tehreek-e-Nifaz-e-Shariat-e -Muhammadi (Movement for the Enforcement of Islamic Shari'a).

The Tehreek-e-Nifaz-e-Shariat-e-Muhammadi, led by Maulana Sufi Muhammad, the Islamist leader recently released from prison under a deal with the government, is the dominant Taliban group in the NWFP. It is also a constituent of the Tehreek-e-Taliban Pakistan, which is led by Baitullah Mehsud.

Recently, the Tehreek-e-Taliban Pakistan walked out of a similar dialogue process with the Pakistani government that was aimed at establishing peace in the Federally Administered Tribal Districts (FATAs), bordered by the NWFP and Afghanistan.

Under the deal between the NWFP government and the Tehreek-e-Nifaz-e-Shariat-e-Muhammadi, which is controlled by Sufi Muhammad's son-in-law Maulana Fazlullah, a shari'a system of administration and justice will be implemented in seven districts. This will effectively create the world's first mini-shari'a state within Pakistan, with the provincial government practically ceding control to the Taliban in roughly 45% of the province.

The following are the details of the shari'a deal: [1]

Taleban Ulema to Guide Police Stations, Shari'a Courts

According to a report in the Peshawar-based Urdu-language newspaper Roznama Khabrain, shari'a law will be implemented in seven NWFP districts: Malakand, Swat, Shangla, Kohistan, Lower Dir, Upper Dir and Chitral.

Under the deal, the government will create a department of "Amr Bil Maroof," a reference to the Islamic principle exhorting others to be good. According to the report, police stations in these districts will assist the Amr Bil Maroof department, thereby ensuring the enforcement of shari'a in everyday life. Ulema will be recruited for honorary department positions, to advise government officials.

According to the Roznama Khabrain report, "the [ulema of the] department of Amr Bil Maroof will train [sic] people in Islam, Islamic teachings, Islamic norms and laws." There will be total ban on singing and dancing, and the ulema, who will not be paid a salary, will be based in the local police stations of the seven districts and offer their services as part of their work for Islam.


Courts Will Deliver Islam-Compliant Punishments

The paper stated that shari'a courts will be created in the seven districts, and that these courts will have the power to deliver Islam-compliant verdicts such as amputating the hands of individuals convicted of theft, administering 80 lashes or stoning for convicted rapists, or enforcing qisas - a principle that permits "like punishment" for a crime.

According to the paper, judges will be required to have knowledge of shari'a. Those who do not will be transferred to other districts of the province, and their positions will be filled by judges who do, and who have qualified at an Islamic university. Also under the deal, ulema will be appointed as assistants to the judges of the shari'a courts.


Government to Terminate Legal Proceedings Against Hundreds Of Militants

The four-day talks were held at Fishing Hut Chakdara in the Lower Dir district of the province. The government delegation was led by NWFP Minister Bashir Belour, and a five-member Taliban delegation was led by Maulana Muslim of the Tehreek-e-Nifaz-e-Shariat-e-Muhammadi.

Under the deal, the government has agreed to terminate legal proceedings against 524 militants from the Tehreek-e-Nifaz-e-Shariat-e-Muhammadi, as demanded by the Taliban. Another 56 will be granted bail once they reach the Pakistani courts.

According to Roznama Khabrain, the government has also agreed to declare a timetable for the withdrawal of Pakistan's security forces from the seven districts.


If Similar FATA Deal Is Reached, The Shari'a Administration's Contiguous Geographical Area Will Expand By 120%

While the seven districts in which shari'a is to be implemented represent roughly 45% of the NWFP, if the Pakistani government also succeeds in its efforts to reach a similar deal with Baitullah Mehsud in the FATAs, the shari'a administration's contiguous geographical area will expand by approximately 120 percent.

There are reasons to believe that the shari'a state's frontiers will expand in the days ahead. According to a report in the Urdu-language newspaper Roznama Jasarat, the NWFP government is preparing to hold talks with the local Taliban in the Mardan district of the province.[2]

The Mardan district adjoins the Malakand district; it is some 60 km away from the provincial capital of Peshawar. According to the report, the NWFP government has already finalized details of the government delegation that will start the talks with the Taliban for a peace agreement in the Mardan district.


MEMRI: Latest News

[AmroodWaala]

Pakistan army leaves ghost towns around Taliban leader
19 May 2008

SPINKAI, Pakistan - A starving donkey is the only sign of life in this Pakistani tribal village, where the army has bulldozed most shops and houses as a collective punishment for harbouring Taliban militants.

Amid US concerns about talks between the new government and the rebels, the Pakistani military flew in reporters to show how it has sealed off the main access points to a nearby region where Taliban chief Baitullah Mehsud is based.

On one of the peaks which loom over Spinkai, Brigadier Ali Abbas tells how the 2,000 men of his brigade surrounded some 600 Taliban rebels guarding access to Mehsud's den in January.

To the north and west, the other access points to Mehsud territory in the heart of the South Waziristan tribal area were retaken after several months by the army, which says it first emptied the region of civilians.

"We have made a vacuum around Mehsud territory, they are encircled, blocked," army spokesman Major General Athar Abbas told journalists. "With our operation, we forced them to sit at the negotiating table."

Khaleej Times Online - Pakistan army leaves ghost towns around Taliban leader

[ChotooMotoo]

There's a lot of crap going on in the tribal areas. It's hard to take sides when everyone is doing their fair share of wrong things.

I find it interesting that they want shariah, when they are doing things that are condemnable by shariah.

[AmroodWaala]

Roberto's story alluded to Taliban's victory

I posted the one where Pakistani military is claiming victory.

The point is, there are many elements involved... Unless one follows the situation very closely, it's difficult to perceive the reality.

[ChotooMotoo]

AmroodWaala said

Roberto's story alluded to Taliban's victory

I posted the one where Pakistani military is claiming victory.

The point is, there are many elements involved... Unless one follows the situation very closely, it's difficult to perceive the reality.

Oh for sure. I don't think the Taliban are winning anything, other than the animosity of the local people. The Paksitani military isn't winning anything either, but if the Taliban keep making life miserable for people, and the military actually protects them from the Taliban, then they could win in the end.

It's definately a complicated situation. The reality is that there is no law and order there. People do whatever they want, and are incredibly unjust to eachother all the time.

[Jaysh]

ChotooMotoo said

Oh for sure. I don't think the Taliban are winning anything, other than the animosity of the local people. The Paksitani military isn't winning anything either, but if the Taliban keep making life miserable for people, and the military actually protects them from the Taliban, then they could win in the end.

Sorry to burst your bubble, but it is the Pakistani military that is gaining the animosity of the people in that region.

[Aryan_]

Jaysh said

Sorry to burst your bubble, but it is the Pakistani military that is gaining the animosity of the people in that region.

And the taliban isn't?

On a personal note, which one is your loyalty to?

[ChotooMotoo]

Jaysh said

Sorry to burst your bubble, but it is the Pakistani military that is gaining the animosity of the people in that region.

Uhh... yeah, DUH, I think I kinda said that. Read what I wrote again.

ChotooMotoo said

Oh for sure. I don't think the Taliban are winning anything, other than the animosity of the local people. The Paksitani military isn't winning anything either, but if the Taliban keep making life miserable for people, and the military actually protects them from the Taliban, then they could win in the end.

That would be a hypothetical situation where the Pakistani military COULD win the support of the local people. Right now, nobody is winning, and the local people are the biggest losers.

[Jaysh]

Aryan_ said

On a personal note, which one is your loyalty to?

I hate the Pakistani government more. But this does not mean that I necessarily support the Taliban. My view on the Taliban is mixed. I think they have good and bad. My greatest opposition to them is the fact that they allied with Al-Qaeda.

ChotooMotoo said

That would be a hypothetical situation where the Pakistani military COULD win the support of the local people. Right now, nobody is winning, and the local people are the biggest losers.

The same could be said of the Taliban.

[Aryan_]

Jaysh said

I hate the Pakistani government more. But this does not mean that I necessarily support the Taliban. My view on the Taliban is mixed. I think they have good and bad. My greatest opposition to them is the fact that they allied with Al-Qaeda. .

Didn't say anything about the government, was talking about the military. Which would you rather fight for?

[Jaysh]

Aryan_ said

Didn't say anything about the government, was talking about the military. Which would you rather fight for?

Neither.

10 char

[Aryan_]

Jaysh said

Neither.

10 char

And if that wasn't a choice?

[Jaysh]

Aryan_ said

And if that wasn't a choice?

Nonsense question. There is always a choice.

[Aryan_]

Jaysh said

Nonsense question. There is always a choice.

In real wars fence sitters make for great target practice.

[Jaysh]

Aryan_ said

In real wars fence sitters make for great target practice.

Dude, the next big war will be UFC style anyways. I'm dead meat.