The text of the declaration, as read out by the NWFP Information Minister revealed that the judicial system in Malakand would be in accordance with the Shariah Mohammadi as prescribed in Fiqqah (Islamic Jurisprudence). The sources of Fiqqah (Islamic Jurisprudence) are Quran, Sunna, Ijma and Analogy and there will not be any decision against it. An appellate court (Dar Ul Quza) known as Sharia Appellate Bench will be established at Divisional (Malakand) level and its decision will be final.The implementation of the Shariah judicial system will be made all over Malakand Division and Kohistan District of Hazara will be included after return of peace with consultation of Maulana Sufi Mohammad. In this respect, an appeal was made to Maulana Sufi Mohammad to call off his "peaceful protest" and extend cooperation to the government in return of peace in the whole of Malakand Division.
The declaration on behalf of Government is signed by provincial ministers Mian Iftikhar Hussain, Syed Zahir Ali Shah, Haji Hidayat Ullah Khan and Engineer Humayoon Khan, Secretary Home and Tribal Affairs Fayaz Khan Toru and Secretary Law Mohammad Farooq Sarwar. Maulana Mohammad Ali Naib Amir, Badshah Sarwar member of Shura and Amir Ezzat Khan spokesman represented the banned Tehrik Nifaz Shariah Mohammadi in the agreement.
Terming the consensus between the government and Maulana Sufi Mohammad as historic, the Chief Minister said that it was endorsed and accepted by most of the political forces. He was of the view that this decision was in line with the wishes and expectations of the people from Malakand Division as there was a vacuum since long. In this respect, he reminded that this part of the province was merged in the country in 1969 and its people were uncomfortable with the existing civil laws framed some 100 years back. He said that the first ever attempt was made in 1994 and second in 1999 by the successive governments. However, due to lack of implementation procedure, the people became unhappy. Now through the proposed regulations, a procedure according to the wishes of the people was suggested for early implementation of the already existing laws, which Amir Haider Khan Hoti believed would ensure early and speedy justice.
Given the growing militancy and the recent adventure by militants when they took control of the traffic system in Swat district, the government has moved additional army contingents to Swat to launch a possible military operation within a few days, sources told Daily Times on Thursday.