Chief of defunct Tehrik Nifaz-e-Shariat Muhammadi (TNSM), Maulana Sufi Muhammad has realised the fact that his Afghanistan adventure against the US forces after the overthrow of Taliban Government in Kabul was wrong and his release by the NWFP Government would help restore peace in restive Swat district.
In an exclusive interview with APP here at his office, the NWFP Minister for Law and Parliamentary Affairs, Barrister Arshad Abdullah said the coalition government in the frontier province was optimistic that the release of Maulana Sufi Muhammad after seven years detention would help establish peace in the restive Swat district where he has stronghold.
He said that agreement signed with the TNSM was a big achievement of the NWFP Government and a step forward towards establishing peace and harmony in the NWFP and adjacent tribal areas. Moreover this step of the NWFP Government would give impetus to the government's measures for talks with the resistance forces, he explained.
He said the NWFP Government believed that the elements that wanted to lay arms could be brought on the right track by holding talks with them. In reply to a question about withdrawal of troops from Swat, the Minister said, it depended upon effectiveness of the agreement inked with TNSM and when the government felt that there was no need of the troops, the army would be called back.
About amendments in the Shariat regulations, he said, the caretakers had prepared some proposals with regard to changes in the Shariat regulations in Malakand Division, however the present government would make its strategy to this effect after taking all the stakeholders into confidence.
At the moment no amendment in the said regulations was under consideration of the government, he added. To a question, barrister Abdullah said he had been part of the lawyers' struggle and was well aware of the fact that the lawyers were against taking payment for the damages caused to them during the movement. However, he added that the government was seriously considering to compensate the lawyers who sustained physical injuries.
To another question, the Law Minister said that entire nation wanted restoration of the deposed judges and any dereliction at this moment would hurt the feelings of the people. In reply to a question, he said provincial law department was making legislation with regard to Defence Housing Authority.
He called for uniform laws for all over the country including the Fata and underscored the need for abolition of FCR and other discriminatory laws. Though it was not possible with a stroke of pen but it could be abolished gradually, he added.
He said that the ANP Government would never tolerate corruption at any level and to keep a check on this menace, special committees would be formed at the grassroots level. He appreciated abolition of graduation condition for elections by the Supreme Court and held it a right step in right direction.
He told that PPP was taken into confidence while appointing the law officers in the province. The PPP was offered one post of Law Officer but it is yet to be filled, he concluded.
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