Musharraf defends Swat accord
March 9th, 2009 - 7:58 pm ICT by IANSKarachi, March 9 (IANS) The Pakistan government’s deal with a radical cleric on imposing Shariat laws in Swat and six other districts of the country’s restive northwest was in line with the demands of the people and would help restore peace in the area, former president Pervez Musharraf said here Monday.
“Thousands of people had come out in the area. What did they want? They wanted speedier justice. That will eventually bring peace,” he said at a press conference here on his return from New Delhi after attending an international conclave.
“The people wanted speedy justice which was not possible because of the high court and the Supreme Court (appealing against orders of the trial courts). Now, these appeals will be heard by the Federal Shariat Court,” Musharraf pointed out.
He also noted that the move to impose Shariat laws in seven districts of the North West Frontier Province (NWFP) had been initiated during his tenure in office.
“The demand had been made during my time. We had initiated discussions on it,” Musharraf said.
Under the deal between the Tehreek-e-Nafaz-e-Shariat-e-Mohammadi (TNSM), or Movement for the Enforcement of Islamic Laws of radical cleric Maulana Sufi Mohammad, and the NWFP government, the Taliban that control the area would lay down their arms in return for imposing the Shariat laws.
The US and other Western governments have roundly criticised the accord, saying it amounted to bowing before the Taliban.
Musharraf did not agree.
“I think we can work with some elements of the Taliban. If it brings peace, why not give it a chance?” he retorted.
Pakistan President Asif Ali Zardari has warned that he would validate the accord only after peace returned to the region.
On Monday, NWFP Chief Minister Haider Khan Hoti signed the documents for promulgating Nizam-e-Adl, as the Shariat laws are known.
This will now be sent to provincial Governor Owais Amhed Ghani and then to Zardari. They will become law once the president gives his assent.
The TNSM is believed to be pressuring the NWFP government to impose the new laws by March 15.
- Musharraf takes strong anti-militancy stance, defends state (Lead) - Mar 09, 2009
- TNSMs deadline forces NWFP Govt to sign Nizam-e-Adl Regulation - Mar 10, 2009
- Sharia verdicts cannot be challenged in Supreme Court: cleric - Apr 16, 2009
- Only provincial government can appoint Sharia judges: Minister - May 04, 2009
- Sharia for Swat challenged in Supreme Court (Second Lead) - Apr 21, 2009
- Pakistani court acquits militant leader's sons - Nov 18, 2011
- Pakistan strikes peace deal with militant tribal group - Mar 09, 2009
- Gilani announces Swat package, to visit area - Apr 17, 2009
- Swat Sharia laws rock Pakistan's Senate - Apr 20, 2009
- Provincial government in Pakistan invites Islamic cleric for talks - Apr 28, 2009
- Taliban says Swat accord 'dissolved' - May 04, 2009
- Taliban agrees to 'permanent ceasefire' in Swat (Lead) - Feb 21, 2009
- Pakistan inks another peace deal with militant tribal group (Lead) - Mar 09, 2009
- Taliban, Islamist leader begin talks in Swat - Feb 19, 2009
- Sufi Mohammad's son killed by shelling in Pakistan's Maidan area - May 07, 2009
Tags: adl, asif ali zardari, chief minister, conclave, former president, frontier province, ghani, haider khan, hoti, islamic laws, north west frontier, nwfp, pakistan government, pervez musharraf, provincial governor, radical cleric, restive northwest, speedy justice, trial courts, western governments