March 10, 2007	Saturday	Safar 20, 1428

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PESHAWAR, March 9: Swat police is planning “a full scale operation” after failing to arrest a cleric of a banned religious outfit.

Some cases had been registered against the cleric under the Anti-Terrorism Act (ATA).

Maulana Fazlullah’s supporters turned violent after police tried to arrest him a week ago when he was addressing a gathering in Kanju area.

Maulana’s supporters pelted a police checkpost with stones in Kanjo and battered a vehicle to express their anger over police action. “We wanted to surprise him and catch him on his way back, but the situation turned violent and police had to let him go as there were civilians, mostly children in the crowd,” said Swat DPO Mohammad Yameen Khan who tried to arrest the Maulana on March 2 in Kanjo area.

Maulana Fazlullah gained popularity in Imam Dherai and surrounding villages for his anti-West and anti-government speeches aired from his FM radio station.Maulana Fazlullah urges his women listeners not to go out even for education. His Friday’s sermons are also well attended.

An official said that police suspected that the ‘well-organised’ Maulana, who is receiving huge funds from people for building a seminary, of having links with some ‘Jehadi elements’. “Forces are committed to act and police are working on a plan to arrest him without provoking creating any law and order situation.”

He said the government was working on a plan to isolate the cleric to ward off any possible provocation.

Police official in the Kabal police station told Dawn that the Maulana was a proclaimed offender and wanted in 10 cases registered with police stations of Kabal, Madyun, Khwaza Khela and Ghaligay under section 11F 3 of the ATA.

Swat district nazim Jamal Nasir was of the view that situation was ‘calm and peaceful’.

“People will listen to their representatives in the local government and everyone in Swat wants peace,” he said.

The Malakand region saw the rise of the TNSM in 1990s, an organisation which wanted Shariah in the region and encouraged youth for Jihad.

A local Malik, who is also a jirga member of the Malakand region, said that no one wanted Western system and everybody hated America so it was easy to get public’s support and that was why Maulana was popular.