August 02, 2008	Saturday	Rajab 29, 1429

ISLAMABAD, Aug 1: The Council of Islamic Ideology (CII) at a meeting here on Friday expressed concern over reports of enforcement of Sharia and Nizam-i-Adl in some tribal areas without consultation with the council and over growing religious extremism in society.

The CII discussed reports about NWFP government’s decision to reach agreements with militants in Swat and Malakand division for establishing ‘Qazi courts’.

According to a press release, the council also discussed a plan of action to meet the challenge of providing guidance to the government on the question of enforcement of Sharia.

It stressed the need for fresh interpretations of the issues of ‘apostasy’, jihad and ‘nahee anil munkar’ (elimination of vice) and said that wrong interpretations were leading to extremism.

The council will meet again on Saturday to discuss the National Reconciliation Ordinance (NRO) in the light of Islamic teachings. Other items on the agenda include doing away with the minority seats in legislative and child labour.