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| India-Pakistan |
| Taliban running parallel courts in Swat |
| 2009-01-11 |
| The Taliban are running parallel courts in several areas of Swat district to provide what they call 'speedy and easy justice' to people. However, the NWFP government says the Taliban are doing so to attract the attention of the public and the media. During a visit to the valley, Daily Times learnt the Taliban courts were functional in many parts of Kabal, Matta and Khwazakhela tehsils. 70 courts: Locals said with the exception of Kanjoo town and Mingora city, more than 70 Taliban courts were functional in the valley. "Some of those are working secretly, while others, located in areas under the control of the Taliban, are openly hearing and deciding cases and awarding punishments to those found guilty under the Taliban code of conduct," Mingora resident Mehboob Ali said. He said the Taliban were mostly conducting the courts in the hujras (guest houses) of their supporters or in buildings vacated by residents who migrated from the valley due to Taliban attacks. Ali said several of the Taliban judges did not have school or religious education. He added most of the cases presented before the Taliban courts were about monetary and land disputes and the Taliban judges usually decided the cases within a few hours. "Disregarding the nature of their decisions, many people in those areas prefer the Taliban courts because of their quick decisions," said another local Shehzad Mehmud, who claimed a lawyer of Matta tehsil had lodged a complaint regarding a monetary dispute with a Taliban judge who decided the case on the spot. He said the maximum time taken by a Taliban court to decide a case was two or three days. Besides imposing fines, the Taliban courts were also punishing those found involved in petty crimes like theft, robbery or using narcotics with lashings. About a week ago, the faces of two people were blackened on the orders of a similar court in Hangu district and they were paraded on donkeys in a market. A Taliban group has announced sharia in parts of Hangu. Swat District Coordination Officer Shaukat Ali Yousafzai refused to comment. However, NWFP Information Minister Mian Iftikhar Hussain told Daily Times the government would not allow a parallel government or courts in the province. "What is the legitimacy of such courts and who will go there?" he asked and vowed stern action. "This is a challenge for us and we know how to cope with this challenge," he added. |
| Posted by:Fred |