"Wise" Zardari Supports Swat Shari`ah

Experts believe Zardari, who has reportedly came under US pressures to block the deal, acted wisely. (Reuters)

"God willing it will have a positive impact on the situation in Swat," Interior Ministry chief Rehman Malik told reporters on Tuesday, April 14.

The parliament passed a resolution Monday urging Zardari to endorse a deal between the NWFP and local militants to implement Shari`ah.

Only the Muttehida Quami Movement (MQM), a secular and ethnic party with roots in southern port city of Karachi and Hyderabad, opposed the bill.

The vote came just days after pro-Taliban prominent scholar Sufi Mohammad, who signed the February deal with the NWFP, criticized Zardari for not ratifying it.

"It is hoped that those who wanted this law in Swat will now surrender their arms and also bring the peace," said Malik.

The aim of the deal was to stem the growing influence of militants of the Tehrik Nifaz-e-Shari’ah Mohammadi (TNSM) which has been demanding implementation of Shari`ah.

Thousands of jubilant people took to the streets in Swat and other parts of the province to celebrate the signing of the bill, hoping that it would pave the way for the restoration of peace to the troubled valley.

"Taliban have tried their level best not to harm the civilians. But still if anyone feels he has been harmed or targeted, he has the right to move against them in the Shari`ah court," said Sufi Mohammad.

"Inshaullah he will get the justice."

Swat, a former ski resort and jewel in the crown of Pakistani tourism, was an independent state governed under Shari`ah until 1970 when then military ruler General Yahya Khan scrapped its independent identity.

Locals say they used to settle their issues under Shari`ah, insisting that the enforcement of British laws complicated the situation.

Wise

"Zardari has made a wise move to put the onus on the parliament instead of on his government," Kakar told IOL.

"Zardari has made a wise move to put the onus on the parliament instead of on his government," Abdul Hai Kakar, a political analyst, told IslamOnline.net.

"Zardari was between the devil and the deep blue sea," he said.

"He had been facing an extreme US pressure not to sign the bill and was being pressurized by his coalition partners and the growing militancy in the area," explained Kakar.

"In the given circumstances, this is the best way adopted by Zardari."

Kakar believes Zardari has gained two major benefits by throwing the ball into the parliament’s court.

"Now the US administration cannot put pressure on him any more. If he had signed the bill without parliament’s approval he would have been the prime target of external and internal pressures," he explains.

"Secondly, he and his party would not share the success or failure of the law unilaterally. Now all the parties which have supported this law will have to bear the responsibility in case of any untoward situation in this connection."

Abdul Khalique Ali, another political analyst, also credits Zardari for the move.

"Democracy is the forte and the weakness of the West simultaneously. Zardari has  played well with this weakness," he told IOL.

"Now, he is in a position whereby he can simply shrug his shoulders and tell his critics 'What can I do. This is the parliament’s decision and I can’t go against the parliament'."

Ali criticized the deal critics who contend there cannot be two separate laws in one state.

"They should go through US laws," he maintains.

"These laws vary from state to state. In one state there is capital punishment for murder, while in other states it is life imprisonment," explained the expert.

"Look at the case of Malaysia, where two states follow the Shari`ah system, but it has never disturbed the integrity of the country."