Taliban courts in Swat and Dir

Situation in Swat and Dir is dismal, as writ of the state is being challenged by the Taliban, who according to a press report, have set up their high court in Kabal, upper Swat. Harassed by the militants, people are taking their cases to the Taliban High Court (THC), and they are beheading people who defy the Taliban or try to leave the village and hanging the corpses from the lampposts to terrorize the people. This means that they are using people as human shield because if they leave the area, the security forces can pound and eliminate them. People of Swat being sick and tired of the situation staged a rally in Chakdara against the Taliban's expanding role in Dir. Like in other parts of the province, legal fraternity on Friday completely boycotted the court proceedings in Peshawar against the use of derogatory statements by Swat Taliban against lawyers in which Taliban had stated that lawyers should be killed and the courts in Swat closed down. Meanwhile, a meeting of the lawyers chaired by Peshawar High Court Bar Association President Abdul Latif Afridi was also held. He told the meeting that the lawyers were the most dignified community of the society and yet they receive threats. The Taliban have been emboldened by the support from some political parties and a section of the people. Qazi Hussain Ahmed of Jamaat-i-Islami and Maulana Fazl-ur-Rehman of Jamiat Ulema-e-Islam have never condemned the actions of the militants who have been challenging the writ of the state, destroying girls' schools and barbers' shops. These leaders and leaders of Tehrik-e-Insaf and Pakistan Muslim League-N have opposed every action against the militants and always ask the government to negotiate with the militants. But they never spell out the methodology and name the militants with whom the government should hold negotiations. Or if negotiations fail, what next should be done? In the past, central as well as provincial governments had signed agreement with the local Taliban but they are not willing to wean from enforcing their perception of sharea. They also insist they will cross the international Pak-Afghan border to help their Afghan brothers. But such acts have created problems for Pakistan, as international community suspects that Pakistan state has a hand in encouraging the militants. Leaders of the above political parties do not realise that army action is imperative when civil administration and police fail to control the situation, which is provided in the Constitution. They should understand that the 1973 Constitution was unanimously adopted by all hues and shades. There was consensus that no law can be made contrary to Islamic injunctions. If the above leaders and militants wish to change the Constitution they have to have two-third majority in the assemblies. Since Jamaat-i-Islami and Jamiat Ulema-e-Islam do not see any possibility of having that majority they want to use the pressure of the militants to enforce their perception, which is at variance with the broad majority of the people of Pakistan. They should declare in no unequal terms if they want to bring about a change through peaceful or through violent means. The latter course is, however, fraught with dangers, and these politico-religious parties would get nothing out of it, as the militants would not accept their leadership. Anyhow, there is awareness among the people. Awami National Party (ANP) women Parliamentarians constituted a jirga to look after the affectees of Swat military operation in Swat and would visit the valley to meet with political leaders and displaced persons. Provincial leaders, President Asif Ali Zardari and Prime Minister Yousuf Raza Gillani should establish their camps in Swat to boost morale of the security forces and also convey the message to the militants that the nation is united against them.