April 13, 2009 --- UPDATE 9:00 PM EST
Pakistan president signs agreement for Islamic law in Swat Valley
Zarar Khan
ISLAMABAD --
Pakistan's pro-U.S. president signed a regulation late Monday to put a northwestern district under Islamic law as part of a peace deal with the Taliban, going along after coming under intense pressure from members of his own party and other lawmakers.
Asif Ali Zardari's signature was a boon for residents of the Swat Valley for nearly two years in demanding a new justice system. But it is sure further anger human rights activists and religious missionaries and feed fears among the U.S. and other Western allies that the valley will turn into a sanctuary for Islamic Law near Afghanistan.
Whatever criticism may come, Zardari can claim some political cover - the National Assembly voted unanimously Monday to adopt a resolution urging his signature, although at least one party boycotted. Earlier, a Taliban spokesman had warned lawmakers against opposing the deal.
Zardari's spokeswoman, Farahnaz Ispahani, confirmed the president signed the regulation Monday night.
His signing implemented a deal agreed to in February by provincial officials to impose Islamic law in the Swat Valley and surrounding areas in exchange for a cease-fire between security forces and the local Taliban.
Zardari had put off signing the agreement, saying he wouldn't until peace was restored in Swat but never defining what that meant. The delay led a hard-line Muslim cleric mediating the agreement to leave Swat in anger last week and upset lawmakers from the region.
As pressure mounted, the federal government said over the weekend that Zardari wanted parliament first to debate the accord to implement an Islamic legal system, as long demanded by some residents disenchanted with inefficient regular courts.
Lawmakers made clear they believed the deal should go ahead, saying it would bring calm to the area after months of bloodshed that killed hundreds of people and displaced up to one-third of the valley's 1.5 million residents.
"The whole nation is united in its support of the Swat regulation and wants the president to approve it," Prime Minister Yousuf Raza Gilani said at the start of parliamentary debate Monday.
Even without the president's approval, judges trained in Islamic law had begun hearing cases in Swat, and witnesses say Taliban fighters are in effective control of much of the region. The provincial government also agreed to other measures under the peace deal, such as cracking down on prostitution and sales of movies deemed "obscene."
Supporters say the changes in the legal system will speed up justice, not lead to harsh punishments or restrict the rights of women. Critics say the agreement is a surrender to extremists whose tactics include beheading opponents and burning girls' schools.
The events Monday "strengthened the militants," said Mahmood Shah, an analyst and former top security official in northwest Pakistan.
Shah noted Taliban fighters in Swat recently staged a violent foray into the neighboring Buner district, possibly to put the heat on lawmakers and Zardari to support the deal. "They have really forced the government to do that," he said.
The provincial government in northwestern Pakistan agreed in February to Islamic law in the Swat Valley and surrounding areas in exchange for a cease-fire with the local Taliban.
Zardari has delayed signing the agreement due to excessive criticism from Western and Pakistani critics. They claim the agreement represents a dangerous surrender to extremists behind a campaign of terrorism in the Swat Valley and more broadly across the border region with Afghanistan.
His official stance was that he wouldn't sign until peace is achieved in the area — but he never defined what that means. The delay led a hard-line cleric mediating the agreement to leave Swat in anger last week while also upsetting lawmakers from the region.
Over the weekend, the federal government said Zardari wanted opinions from members of Parliament first.
The National Assembly unanimously approved the resolution urging President Asif Ali Zardari to back the agreement Monday, though one party boycotted. The vote came hours after a Taliban spokesman said lawmakers opposed to the deal would be considered apostates.
"The whole nation is united in its support of the Swat regulation and wants the president to approve it," Prime Minister Yousuf Raza Gilani said at the start of a floor debate on the pact Monday.
Even without the president's approval, judges trained in Islamic law had already began hearing cases in Swat, and witnesses say the Taliban are in effective control of much of the region. Supporters say the changes in the legal system will speed up justice there, not lead to harsh punishments or restrict the rights of women.
Zahid Khan, information secretary for the Awami National Party, which leads the provincial government and has been repeatedly targeted by extremists, warned earlier that it will review its alliance with Zardari's party if the delays continued.
The Awami National Party notes an Islamic legal system has long been a local demand in Swat, and said it is the best hope for ending the bloodshed.
In a sign that Zardari was searching early on for political cover to avoid backing the deal, a top member of his party on Monday accused the Taliban of failing to hold up their end of the bargain.
Those brokering the deal have given few specifics about conditions placed on the Taliban.
But Pakistan People's Party information secretary Fauzia Wahab said the Taliban were supposed to cooperate with security forces, denounce suicide attacks, close their training camps and turn over their weapons, among other measures.
"The agreement was two-way, it was not one-way," she said.
Muslim Khan, the Taliban spokesman, did not say whether the Taliban would punish legislators opposing the deal other than to say a militant council would discuss the matter. The charge of apostasy, or abandoning Islam, carries the death penalty in some quarters.
Lawmakers from the Muttahida Quami Movement, a party based in the southern city of Karachi that has a strong anti-Taliban stance, walked out of the session. "We can't accept Islamic law at gunpoint," said Farooq Sattar, a top party leader.
Under tremendous international pressure, Pakistan has acknowledged that part of the conspiracy behind November's siege of Mumbai was hatched on its soil. The attack left 164 people dead, along with nine of 10 gunmen.
Pakistani Interior Ministry chief Rehman Malik said late Monday authorities had arrested another suspect, and were still searching for four more of nine alleged perpetrators.
Shahid Jamil Riaz was arrested in Karachi, Malik said. He stands accused of maintaining financial accounts and helping plan the attack, alleged to have been masterminded by operatives of the banned Pakistani militant group Lashkar-e-Taiba.
Malik further pressed India to give more information to aid in Pakistan's investigation. He said two DNA reports that India had handed over on separate suspects were identical, indicating a mix-up.
Also Monday, visiting Sen. John Kerry met with Zardari, Gilani and other top officials, including Lt. Gen. Ahmed Shujaa Pasha, the head of Pakistan's most powerful spy service, Inter-Services Intelligence.
Kerry, chairman of the Senate Foreign Relations Committee, is spearheading a bill to triple nonmilitary aid to Pakistan to $1.5 billion a year for 10 years.
The goal is to help Pakistan improve economic, educational, and other sectors partly to lessen the allure of militancy.
In a statement after meeting Kerry, Gilani urged the U.S. not to attach conditions to the aid funding.
During a news conference, the senator largely sidestepped piercing questions about U.S. drone strikes on militant targets in Pakistan's northwest, saying he would convey Pakistani dismay over the escalated missile campaign to his colleagues in Washington.
Kerry also took a diplomatic stance when asked about U.S. allegations that Pakistan's spy agencies are assisting the Taliban and linked groups in Afghanistan.
"I think that he and your government are making enormous efforts to guarantee the absolute cooperation and accountability of the intelligence efforts in this country," Kerry said.
