Swat Taliban turn their guns on lawyers, judges

[LahoreEstate]

Swat Taliban turn their guns on lawyers, judges




Wednesday, February 04, 2009

By Hamid Mir

MINGORA: Militants in Swat on Tuesday warned that all lawyers and judges, being part of an ‘infidel judicial system’, would be killed if they did not quit their profession.

Announced on their illegal FM radio, the threat from insurgents — intent upon forcing their ideology on residents of the restive valley — has obviously scared the legal fraternity.

The Swat Bar Association president confirmed the lives of 300 of his co-professionals were under threat and he was trying to contact the fighters in an effort to assure them that the lawyers were ready to work under an Islamic judicial regime.

In an exclusive talk with The News, Aftab Alam identified inordinate delays in the dispensation of justice as the root cause of the problems facing the once idyllic region. Many poor people supported the rebels because the present judicial system did not provide them speedy justice, argued Aftab Alam, who called for the implementation of the proposed Shariah regulation in Swat.

After the enforcement of the regulation, he believed, the acolytes of firebrand cleric Maulana Fazlullah would have no justification for battling the government and challenging its writ.On the other hand, Swat District Police Officer (DPO) Dilawar Khan Bangash promised the government would provide full security to lawyers and judges threatened by the Taliban.

However, he indicated it would be difficult to ensure their safety at homes. The district police chief hoped the ongoing Army operation would break the back of the rebels.As a result of the military action, Bangash felt the fighters would not be in a position to challenge the writ of the government. He claimed the militants — in the name of Islam — were involved in un-Islamic activities.

Bangash accused the fighters of gang-raping and killing four women in Kabal area recently. While sharing with this scribe autopsy reports, the DPO revealed the insurgents had killed nine women, including two beggars, during the last two months.

Pakhtuns did not target females, he pointed out, disclosing the fighters had come from southern Punjab and wanted to establish their control in Swat, characterised as poetry in motion because of its enormous scenic beauty.

The Taliban were attacking not only schools for girls but also educational institutes for boys, the DPO added. Of the 180 schools they have destroyed hitherto, 69 were imparting education to boys. They are also trying to bludgeon local boy students into going to Madrassas (seminaries).

President of Swat Private Schools Management Association Ahmad Shah said the Army had occupied 20 schools. That was why the fighters were attacking schools, because they served as a shelter for soldiers, he reasoned.

Traders in China Market — palpably depressed — revealed half of them had already abandoned their businesses and the remaining 50 per cent would soon leave the embattled valley if the situation did not improve. Most of Swat dwellers support the option of talks and enforcement of the Shariah.

http://www.thenews.com.pk/top_story_detail.asp?Id=20075