NWFP Government, Taliban agree to amend Shariat Act

Peshawar, July 9 (ANI): The NWFP Government and the Taliban in 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", NWFP Minster for Forest Wajid Ali Khan said Monday at Saidu Sharif, Swat.

Wajid 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 US agenda.

He said that the forces should be called back from the region and Sharia should be enforced in Malakand Division including Swat district.

Muslim Khan said 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, The Nation reported.

He reiterated that the Taliban would honour the agreement so that the people of Swat could find peace in their area and their difficulties could be brought to an end.

The NWFP Forest Minister said that Sharia would be enforced in Malakand Division within three months and added that all the promises made with the Taliban would be fulfilled completely.

He further said that the Frontier Corps (FC) embarked on 17 trucks has already left the area while the Army would also gradually leave the locality and added that soon the held Taliban would be released and the cases against them would be withdrawn. (ANI)