Following anti-Taliban offensive, NWFP Govt uninterested in implementing shariah
By ANIMonday, March 8, 2010
PESHAWAR - Pakistan’s North Western Frontier Province (NWFP) appears to be “less interested” in implementing Sharia following a military operation in Malakand Division.
In 2009, on the local population’s demand, the NWFP Government had imposed Nizam-e-Adl Regulations under which already-serving civil judges, additional sessions’ judges and district and sessions’ judges were appointed as ilaaqa qazis, izafi zilla qazis and zilla qazis in the Malakand Division and Kohistan, the Daily Times reports.
The government also promised to appoint another 100 qazis under the Shariah law.
However, it has failed to appoint 94 ilaaqa qazis and six zilla qazis in the Malakand Division.
Besides the appointment of qazis, the provincial government has also failed to establish Darul Qaza (a high-court-level court) and Darul Darul Qaza (a Supreme-Court-level court) in the region.
The working of qazi courts without the establishment of Darul Qaza and Darulo Darul Qaza is a futile exercise, as the people of Malakand Division have to challenge qazi courts’ decisions in the Peshawar High Court (PHC) and the Supreme Court of Pakistan.
Lawyers in Swat have warned of a massive anti-government campaign if Shariah law is not implemented in full by April 1.
The paper quoted Swat District Bar Association (DBA) President Abdul Ghafoor, as saying that implementation of Shariah law had been a longstanding demand of the people of Malakand Division, but none of the rulers had paid serious attention to end the unrest among the people. (ANI)
