Editorial Swat And Shariah : What Are The Issues ?
International press has repored that hundreds of supporters participated in a peace march in Pakistan's Swat valley yesterday aimed at convincing Taliban militants to lay down their weapons under a pact with the government. Nato and Britain raised concerns about the deal, which imposes Islamic law and suspends a military offensive in the one-time tourist haven that is now largely under militant control. Nato, which has 55,000 troops across the border in Afghanistan, warned the deal risked giving extremists a "safe haven."But the US reacted cautiously, with the State Department saying it was still trying to understand Pakistan's strategy.The regional government in Pakistan's northwest struck the deal Monday with Sufi Muhammad, an aging pro-Taliban Alim who is father-in-law to Swat Taliban leader Maulana Fazlullah. Sufi Muhammad agreed to talk to Fazlullah in return for the pledge to introduce Islamic law in the valley, where militants have routed the police, beheaded political opponents and burned scores of schools for girls.Muhammad and his supporters, carrying black and white flags representing the Taliban and peace, marched through Swat's main city of Mingora as jubilant residents chanted "God is great! We want peace!". Pakistani officials insist the deal is not a concession, but rather that it addresses the long-standing demands of residents in Swat and surrounding areas for a more efficient justice system.The main changes involve already existing regulations that were never enforced, for instance, allowing religious scholars to advise judges, officials said. There are no publicized plans to ban girls from schooling, as hardline Taliban would want."We will not introduce the Taliban system here," Bashir Bilour, a senior provincial government leader, said yesterday. "This is a system about justice. It is for producing swift justice."Federal Information Minister Sherry Rehman has said President Asif Ali Zardari would not sign off on the agreement "until peace is restored in the region." The Swat Taliban, meanwhile, have said they will stop fighting once Islamic law is in place and are already observing a cease-fire.When pressed by reporters at the State Department on Tuesday spokesman Gordon Duguid said the US was seeking a "fuller explanation" from Pakistan. We have no special comment about the agreement. Pakistan has done it under the pressure of circumstances because of military pressure both from the east and west of Pakistan from India and Afganistan, apart from internal insurgency in some parts.We have some comment about Shariah application.What these Talibans or their supporters mean by Shariah is a big question.Pakistan is an Islamic republic, it has more or less revised all laws in line with Islamic law.It has also enacted Hadood laws where hadd is applicable.Yes there are implementation problems.Moreover Islamic law is not about Hadood or punishments only.Islamic law is much more concerned with economics, finance, banking, insurance, market supervision , monetary policy and fiscal policy.Islamic law is also about family laws, about marriage, divorce and inheritance , about gift, waqf, about constitutional principles, commercial or business laws. Islam, s emphisis is more on values and Akhlaq than on punishments or laws.These Talibans, most of them have very narrow view of Islam.They lack education.Their education is only old text books prepared by scholars of the past.They never updated their courses.We have serious concern that they are damaging image of Islam.Some Western press is also highliting , partially to discredit Islam and Islamists.We ask the senior Ulama of Pakistan and the Muslim world to look to this and help solve this recurring problem. .
