Pak govt to release 64 Taliban

Image via WikipediaPak govt to release 64 Taliban militants

By Our Pakistan Correspondent

Islamabad

June 6: The Pakistan government has agreed to release 64 militants loyal to Taliban leader Maulana Fazlullah, popularly referred to as Mulla Radio, as part of a peace deal with the local Taliban.

The North-West Frontier Province (NWFP) government has agreed to free detained Taliban militants loyal to Maulana Fazlullah in three phases, with at least 64 militants to be released in the first phase, a government official said.

The new deal is the follow-up of an accord struck between the Swat Taliban and the government last month.

In the 15-point deal reached last month, the militants agreed to halt suicide attacks and bombing on security forces and government installations. In exchange, the government promised the release of local Taliban militants arrested during military operations and imposition of Nizam-e-Adl.

(justice system) in Malkand division.

Pakistani troops also agreed to withdraw from the restive South Waziristan areas when local Taliban chief Baitullah Mehsud will free captured Army and paramilitary personnel.

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Shari'a State In Seven Districts: Paki

Image via WikipediaNo. 1933- Pakistan Takes Steps Towards Shari'a State In Seven Districts

On May 11, 2008, the secular government in Pakistan's North West Frontier Province (NWFP) finalized a deal with the Taliban groups for the implementation of shari'a in the province's seven districts. The Pashtun nationalist government in the NWFP, which came to power last month, had vowed to talk to the Taliban in order to establish peace in the region. The talks were held between the government, Pakistani Taliban and the outlawed Tehreek-e-Nifaz-e-Shariat-e -Muhammadi (Movement for the Enforcement of Islamic Shari'a).

The Tehreek-e-Nifaz-e-Shariat-e-Muhammadi, led by Maulana Sufi Muhammad, the Islamist leader recently released from prison under a deal with the government, is the dominant Taliban group in the NWFP. It is also a constituent of the Tehreek-e-Taliban Pakistan, which is led by Baitullah Mehsud.

Recently, the Tehreek-e-Taliban Pakistan walked out of a similar dialogue process with the Pakistani government that was aimed at establishing peace in the Federally Administered Tribal Districts (FATAs), bordered by the NWFP and Afghanistan.

Under the deal between the NWFP government and the Tehreek-e-Nifaz-e-Shariat-e-Muhammadi, which is controlled by Sufi Muhammad's son-in-law Maulana Fazlullah, a shari'a system of administration and justice will be implemented in seven districts. This will effectively create the world's first mini-shari'a state within Pakistan, with the provincial government practically ceding control to the Taliban in roughly 45% of the province.

To read in full, visit http://www.memri.org/bin/latestnews.cgi?ID=SD193308 .

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