Thursday, April 16, 2009 
By Daud Khattak
PESHAWAR: NWFP Governor Owais Ghani on Wednesday promulgated the Nizam-e-Adl Regulation, 2009, for the Malakand division and Kohistan district of the Hazara region.
The law-signing ceremony was held at the Jirga Hall of the Governor House. NWFP Chief Minister Ameer Haider Hoti was also present on the occasion. Neither of the two top provincial officials responded satisfactorily to a question about the fate of those accused of killing hundreds of people, including relatives of some key government officials, and burning and destroying about 200 schools, along with other public and private buildings in Swat.
Senior members of the NWFP cabinet, members of the provincial assembly from Malakand and government officials were also present. Before signing the law, the governor and the chief minister held a brief meeting to discuss its pros and cons, officials told The News.
They said the law had been sent by the president to the Ministry of States and Frontier Regions (Safron) on Tuesday, which handed it over to the chief minister on Wednesday. Talking to a group of journalists, the two top officials stressed the need for reconciliation in Swat.
Hoti dispelled the impression that the United States had expressed reservations over the regulation. He said both the president and the prime minister were on their side for the implementation of the regulation.
The chief minister ruled out fears of some quarters that the new law would prove a parallel judicial system. He said no clause or article was in contravention of the Constitution and there was nothing to worry about for the rights organisations.
Hoti said the system would provide speedy justice and cases would be decided in four to six months. He said concerns of all the sects had been addressed. Responding to a question, the chief minister said the Taliban had already abandoned armed patrolling and there was no justification for the militants to display arms after the promulgation of the Nizam-e-Adl Regulation.
Governor Owais Ghani said it was time for reconciliation. He said the regulation had been implemented according to the aspirations of the people, who wanted easy and speedy justice. “The people want peace. The area can’t afford more bloodshed. It is time for reconciliation and compromise to provide peace to the people of Swat,” said the governor.
Owais said a permanent task force had been formed to oversee the situation and make suggestions for strengthening the peace process. Calling it a historic day, the governor said the people should support the process, as it was in the interest of the residents of Malakand and the whole region. About the appointment of Qazis, he said the step would take some time.
Of reservations from some quarters about the law, the governor said the Malakand people were comfortable with the system and the provincial government had responded to their aspirations, as a similar system of “easy and speedy” justice was in force in the region till 1969.
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