TTP, govt reach accord
Sunday, February 22, 2009
Permanent truce announced in Swat Fazlullah vows to continue ‘Jihad’ against US, accepts Nizam-e-Adl Regulation;schools to reopen tomorrow
By Delawar Jan
PESHAWAR: The government and the Tehrik-e-Taliban Pakistan (TTP), Swat chapter, on Saturday agreed to a permanent ceasefire in the militancy-hit Swat Valley after Maulana Fazlullah accepted the Nizam-e-Adl Regulation, leading the government to announce the reopening of schools and return of the internally-displaced persons.
Speaking on his FM channel, Maulana Fazlullah gave an impression to his listeners that he would give up fighting in Swat but would not surrender. He made it clear that he would continue his struggle at the international level and the fight against the US till Washington was defeated.
The militants had announced a 10-day ceasefire on February 15 after successful negotiations between the founding chief of the TNSM Sufi Muhammad and an NWFP government delegation led by Information Minister Mian Iftikhar. In response to the militants’ ceasefire, the chief minister said the government wished to have a truce for good.
Commissioner Malakand Division Syed Muhammad Javed told media persons that the ceasefire would now be permanent. “Yes, both sides will observe a permanent ceasefire,” Javed told The News by phone.
On the other hand, Swat TTP chief Maulana Fazlullah also made the same announcement on the ceasefire in his address.
After the agreement, Javed said all the schools would be reopened by Monday. He said where the premises had been destroyed during the conflict, makeshift schools would be established in tents.
Fazlullah also allowed girls’ students to appear in examinations in proper Purdah.
The government also urged the internally displaced persons (IDPs) to return to their homes, declaring that it would provide them assistance and compensation. The commissioner said the government had provided funds in this regard and Rs 300,000 and Rs 100,000 would be given to those killed and wounded during the violence, respectively. The officer also said the government was making efforts to put in place a strong civilian administration in the valley to solve the problems of people.
He asked those police officials who had deserted the force during the conflict to rejoin their duty and announced promotion for policemen who had bravely performed duty during the conflict, besides double salary of all the turbulent months.
He said the chief minister would soon announce a development package for the war-ravaged valley.
Sufi Muhammad also finished the peace caravan at Mingora after marching through the troubled areas. “The aim of the caravan was to remove fear from the hearts of people,” his son Matiul Haq told The News. He said majority of the TNSM activists went back to their homes as asked by Maulana Sufi Muhammad.
Maulana Fazlullah in his address said he supported Sufi Muhammad because he had been making sincere efforts for the enforcement of the Islamic law. “Now we will honour the Shariah under any circumstances. It’s also the responsibility of Ulema to work for it,” he said, terming the Nizam-e-Adl a great achievement and the first brick of the Shariah. He also called upon other segments of the society to work for the success of the Nizam-e-Adl, asking the government to ensure its implementation for durable peace.
“Other five components of the Shariah (politics, education, health, society and economy) will automatically follow after the implementation of the judicial system,” he assured the people.
Interestingly, the militant commander, who has been challenging the government’s writ, said that the Nizam-e-Adl was their constitutional right. “We will not accept a law that clashes with the God’s law,” he declared. However, Fazlullah made it clear that they wanted the kind of Shariah that could lay hands on the prime minister and the president.
He said there were no foreign militants in Swat and that the government had killed its own people. The government was accusing the Taliban to be acting at the behest of someone else, but the agreement had proved it wrong. “Death in the way of God is better than spending a sinful life,” he said, adding that they would continue offering sacrifice for the Shariah.
He vowed to continue his struggle at the international level, saying that they would not bow to the US and continue the war till Washington’s defeat. “War in Afghanistan continues and so does our Jihad,” he declared. He said they fought a “Jihad” against those who had handed over 600 “Mujahideen” to the US.
APP adds: The students would be provided security and protection, Syed Javed told reporters.
To a question, he said, the magistracy system would be revived soon in Swat with the appointment of deputy commissioners and assistant commissioners. The chief minister would make an announcement in this regard shortly, he added.
He announced to abolish the check-posts set up on various routes and there would be no hurdle in smooth flow of traffic.
DIG Malakand Shaukat Hayat Khan on this occasion directed the police officials who had left their job to rejoin their duties at their respective places.
To a question, he said, the murder of Musa Khankhel was being probed and the killers would be exposed shortly.
TTP, govt reach accord
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