Taliban Declares Judicial Independence In Swat [View All]

Source: CBS News

The Taliban cleric in charge of Pakistan's Swat Valley has declared the area judicially independent from the country's federal government.

Sufi Mohammad said Wednesday that Islamic law, or Shariah, decisions handed down by militants in the mountainous region will not be subject to appeal or overrule by the Pakistani Supreme Court or any other avenue of appeal in the justice system, reports CBS News' Farhan Bokhari.

"The appointment of qazis (Islamic judges) will be followed by the creation of a darul qaza (Islamic high court). Any decisions made by these two (institutions) will not be subject to challenge in any Pakistani high court or Supreme Court," said Mohammad.

It was a direct challenge to the government just days after lawmakers and President Asif Ali Zardari officially approved the implementation of Shariah law in Swat as a concession to the militants, who had waged a bloody battle against Paksitani security forces in the region for months. They agreed to lay down their arms if Islamic law was instituted.


Read more: http://www.cbsnews.com/blogs/2009/04/15/world/worldwatch/entry4945913.shtml