Govt, Taliban agree to amend Shariat Act

SWAT - Reaffirming their stand on restoration of peace and stability in the region, the NWFP government and the Taliban from Swat headed by Maulana Fazlullah agreed to bring amendments in the 1999 NWFP Shariat Regulation Act with mutual understanding.

“A joint committee will recommend proposals and suggestions for amendments in the NWFP Shariat Regulation Act”, the NWFP Minster for Forest Wajid Ali Khan stated while briefing media persons about the six-hour long meeting held here on Monday in the office of Regional Coordination Officer (RCO) at Saidu Sharif, Swat.

Dr Shamshir Ali Khan, Fazal Karim, DIG Malakand Tanveerul Haq Sipra, DCO Swat Shaukat Ali Yusufzai and DPO Wasiq Khan were on the meeting from the government side while the Taliban were represented by their spokesman Muslim Khan as well as Ali Bakhsh, Nisar Khan, Mehmud Khan and Mohammad Amin on the occasion.

Wajid further said that the joint committee for recommending proposals and suggestions would include officials from Law Department as well as Swat Committee and people from Tehrik Shariat-i-Muhammadi.

Both the government and the Taliban representatives discussed four points on the occasion including amendments in the Shariat Regulation Act, release of prisoners, withdrawal of check posts and compensation to the affected people.

Muslim Khan, Taliban spokesman from Swat said that the peace would not return to the region until the agreement is not implemented in letter and in spirit and added that they were telling the NWFP government that they were undoubtedly sincere in this regard, but the central government was not sincere and was acting according to the American agenda.

He said that the forces should be called back from the region and Sharia should be enforced in Malakand Division including district Swat and added that they were waiting for the government response in this regard and also said that the government should release the Taliban and do away with the cases lodged against them.