Taliban to stay armed as military operations continue

By Gohar Ali Gohar and Hameedullah Khan
Monday, 04 May, 2009 | 03:45 PM PST

TNSM spokesman Ameer Izzat reiterated that the govt did not consult Sufi Mohammad on the Qazis’ appointments. — Reuters

BATKHELA: The Taliban will not lay down their arms until the military operation is halted in the region, Tehrik-i-Nifaz-i-Shariat-i-Muhammadi (TNSM) chief Sufi Mohammad's spokesman Ameer Izzat said on Monday.

We hold the government responsible for the consequences of the ongoing military operations in the area, Izzat said.

The TNSM will only be responsible for the maintenance of peace if sharia is practically enforced in Malakand, he said, adding that it is the government's responsibility to provide conditions that will help ensure lasting peace.

The government should realise that peace cannot be restored through force and can only come through Shariat-i-Muhammadi and said no one will take up arms once the sharia is enforced. 

He reiterated that the government did not consult the TNSM on the Qazis' appointments.

Meanwhile, North West Frontier Province's information minister Iftikhar Hussain said that by establishing the Darul Qaza, the government fulfilled its promise and now it's the TNSM's responsibility to honour its commitments.

On Sunday, TNSM and Swat Taliban rejected the setting up of Darul Qaza and appointments of Qazis as a unilateral decision of the government, saying Sufi Mohammad was not consulted before the announcement.

Talking to media persons after TNSM Shura’s meeting at its headquarter in Bilal Mosque Amandara on Monday, Ameer Izzat Khan said the setting up of Darul Qaza in Malakand was a one-sided decision by the government and TNSM chief was not consulted prior to the announcement in this regard.

Izzat, reading a written statement before newsmen, said the government during its first round of talks at Timergara a few days ago had promised to take Sufi Mohammad into confidence, stop the military operation in Maidan and Buner and pave the way for a safe and speedy return of displaced people. But, he said, none of these demands were met. The TNSM therefore disowned the establishment of Darul Qaza and appointment of judges as Qazis.

There was no mention in the written statement regarding the February 16 peace accord with the government despite reservation over the formation of Darul Qaza.

Sufi Muhammad said on the occasion that ‘delegating powers of Qazis to judges is Ghair-Sharaee,’ adding: ‘we want qazis in accordance with Shariat-i-Muhammadi.’ He said TNSM wanted to transform the present judicial system into sharia system.

He said sharia and democracy are totally different systems, adding we consider democracy as Kuffar (infidelity) and believe in system of Quran and Sunnah. The constitution of Pakistan is Islamic and it was not practically implemented in the country, he said on Sunday.

He said we are still ready for talks and stand by our promise of restoring peace in Malakand if sharia was implemented in its true spirit.

Meanwhile, Swat Taliban spokesman Muslim Khan on Sunday told media persons by phone from an undisclosed location that Darul Qaza under the shadows of jets bombing and shelling was not acceptable to them.

He said the government should stop the military operation and set up Darul Qaza after consultation with Sufi Mohmmad. He said Taliban were abiding by the peace agreement made between the government and TNSM. He said the government was violation the peace accord after launching operation in Dir and Buner districts and making preparation for strike in Swat.

He warned of befitting response if military operation was again imposed on them in Swat.

He said Darul Qaza should be so powerful that it could summon the president, prime minister, Sufi Mohammad and even Mullah Fazlullah to appear before it.

He said the government has arrested 40 Taliban, including several innocent locals, and added that about 25 security personnel were in Taliban custody, who would be freed as soon as possible.

Muslim Khan ruled out the supply of arms to the Taliban by foreign states, adding they had successfully stolen weapons from Pakistan security forces. He expressed full confidence in Sufi Mohammad, saying they would follow the directives of Sufi Mohmmad regarding Darul Qaza and Qazi courts.