PAKISTAN: MUSLIM FUNDAMENTALISTS IGNITE NORTHERN HILLS

LAHORE, Nov 13 (IPS) - PARAMILITARY TROOPS THIS WEEK OBTAINED THE UPPER HAND AGAINST MILITANT ISLAMICS AFTER TWO DAYS OF PITCHED BATTLES IN THE NORTHERN PAKISTAN MOUNTAIN DISTRICT OF SWAT, BUT POLITICAL OBSERVERS SAY THE REGION WILL CONTINUE TO SIMMER.

AT LEAST 23 PEOPLE, INCLUDING SEVEN SECURITY PERSONNEL HAVE BEEN KILLED SINCE LAST WEEK WHEN ARMED MILITANTS OF THE TANZEEM NIFAZ-I-SHARIAT MOHAMMADI (TNSM), DEMANDING A STRICTER ISLAMIC ADMINISTRATION, VIRTUALLY TOOK OVER SWAT'S MATTA TOWN.

SEVERAL GOVERNMENT OFFICIALS, INCLUDING TWO JUDGES AND A DEPUTY SUPERINTENDENT OF POLICE WERE TAKEN HOSTAGE TO PRESS FOR THE IMMEDIATE ENFORCEMENT OF ISLAMIC LAW IN MALAKAND DIVISION, COMPRISING FOUR FORMER PRINCELY STATES.

WHILE SEVERAL HOSTAGES HAVE BEEN RELEASED ELSEWHERE IN THE DISTRICT AND SECURITY FORCES HAVE RECAPTURED SWAT'S SAIDU SHARIF AIRPORT-- THE LARGEST IN NORTH PAKISTAN-- FROM THE MILITANTS, THE TNSM CONTINUES TO HOLD THE MATTA HOSTAGES.

THE ISSUE HAS BEEN ON THE BOIL SINCE FEBRUARY THIS YEAR WHEN PAKISTANI SUPREME COURT QUASHED AS 'UNCONSTITUTIONAL' THE EXPLOITATIVE PROVINCIALLY ADMINISTERED TRIBAL AREAS (PATA) REGULATIONS THAT GOVERNED MALAKAND-- A HIGHLY UNDERDEVELOPED AREA.

THE JUDGMENT CREATED AN ADMINISTRATIVE VACUUM, FUELLING AN UNREST CAUSED BY LONG-STANDING POLITICAL REPRESSION IN THE AREA, OBSERVERS SAY.

IN MAY, TNSM SUPPORTERS BLOCKED ROADS IN MALAKAND PARALYSING TRAFFIC FOR A WEEK DEMANDING "SHARIYAT YA SHAHADAT" (ISLAMIC LAW OR MARTYRDOM). THEY ALSO DIRECTED ALL TRAFFIC TO DRIVE ON THE RIGHT SIDE, DEEMED AS 'ISLAMIC' BY THEIR 65-YEAR-OLD LEADER, MAULANA SUFI MOHAMMED.

THE GOVERNOR OF PAKISTAN'S NORTH WEST FRONTIER PROVINCE (NWFP) RESPONDED BY A VAGUE PROCLAMATION IMPLEMENTING ISLAMIC LAW IN MALAKAND. THIS WAS GREETED JOYOUSLY BY THE TNSM, WHO NEVERTHELESS WARNED THEY WOULD TAKE UP ARMS IF THE GOVERNMENT DID NOT HONOUR ITS COMMITMENT.

THE LEGITIMACY OF THE ORDER WAS QUESTIONED BY LEGAL EXPERTS WHO POINTED OUT THAT THE PROVINCIAL GOVERNMENT WAS NOT AUTHORISED TO MAKE SUCH A MOVE.

EVEN PRESIDENT FAROOQ LEGHARI EXPRESSED HIS INABILITY TO TAKE THE ACTION DEMANDED BY THE TNSM, SAYING HE WOULD ONLY BE ABLE TO DO SO WHEN FRESH LEGISLATION WAS ENACTED BY PARLIAMENT OR ON THE RECOMMENDATION OF THE GOVERNMENT.

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