TNSM chief Maulana Sufi Muhammad leaves Swat in protest against delay in implementation of Nizam-e-Adl Regulation

Maulana Sufi Muhammad, the Tehreek-e-Nafaz-e-Shariat-e-Mohammadi (TNSM) chief, concluded his “peace camp” in Swat on April 9, in protest against the delay in the implementation of Nizam-e-Adl Regulation, according to Daily Times. “But the peace deal with the provincial government is intact,” Sufi Muhammad told a press conference in Mingora before moving out of the District. “If something unpleasant happens after our peace camp has been wrapped up, President Asif Zardari will be held responsible,” Sufi read a written statement in Pushto. He alleged the federal Government was not sincere. TNSM spokesman Amir Izzat Khan said Sufi Muhammad left for Amandara town in Malakand where he will chair a shura (utive council) meeting. “The ball is now in the president’s court,” he told Daily Times. However, the Malakand Commissioner Syed Muhammad Javed said the federal Government would sign the regulation soon.
Meanwhile, one unidentified militant was killed by the Security Forces when a group of Taliban militants attempted to loot the house of a former District official in village Qalagai, The News reported. A group of armed militants raided the house of Ajmeer and loaded the valuable household items in their vehicles, besides taking four people with them. However, soon after the raid of the Taliban, the SFs arrived and opened fire on the Taliban convoy.
In addition, the Taliban spokesman Muslim Khan said peace in the country is only possible through the imposition of Sharia (Islamic law). Talking to Daily Times, he joined Sufi Muhammad in condemning the president for not signing the Nizam-e-Adl Regulation. “We support Sufi Muhammad’s stance against the federal government… If clashes between Taliban and the security forces resume, the president will be responsible,” he said.
Elsewhere in the province, the Taliban agreed to leave Buner District unconditionally after successful talks with a peace jirga (council of elders) in Mingora on April 9, Daily Times reported. Malakand Commissioner Syed Muhammad Javed told a private TV channel the Taliban had agreed to leave Buner and would completely vacate the area by April 10 (today). He said the Taliban had made no demands for vacating the area. Earlier, the local jirga held talks with the Taliban under the supervision of the commissioner. Javed said Maulana Waliullah mediated between the jirga members and Taliban. A group of Swat Taliban had moved into Buner last week. However, local villagers resisted them, engaging the heavily armed militants and killing 20 of them.