MINGORA, Feb 18: A large number of activists and supporters of the Tehrik Nifaz-i-Shariat Muhammadi held a ‘peace march’ in the main bazaar here on Wednesday. They later went to Matta, a stronghold of the Taliban.

Addressing the participants, TNSM chief Maulana Sufi Mohammad said that the purpose of the march was to restore confidence of the people of Swat. “The day is not far when peace will return to Swat.”

He said the TNSM had shifted its movement to Swat and would stay in the valley until peace was restored and Sharia introduced in its ‘true sense’.

Maulana Sufi said: “We will hold talks with the Taliban and urge them to lay down arms. The aim of both Taliban and TNSM is to enforce Sharia in Malakand division. It has been achieved and now there is no justification for taking up arms and attacking government installations.”

He expressed hope that the Taliban would not let him down and work for permanent peace in the region.

“I ask you (Taliban militants) to remain peaceful. The government has accepted all our demands and a peace agreement has been reached with the NWFP government for the enforcement of Nizam-i-Adl,” he advised his followers.

The TNSM leader said that problems of the people of Malaknd and Kohistan would be solved after the enforcement of Islamic system and there would be a durable peace in near future.

Thousands of people, waving black and white flags and reciting verses from the Holy Quran, marched to bazaars in Mingora. They chanted slogans like “Allah-o-Akbar” and “We want peace and Sharia”.

Maulana Sufi walked behind several rows of followers marching hand-in-hand.

Maulana Sufi also addressed a crowd of jubilant supporters in Matta, the stronghold of Taliban militants loyal to his son-in-law Maulana Fazlullah.

A large number of people have left Swat and moved to safer places because of the military operation against militants.

Meanwhile, senior provincial minister Bashir Bilor told reporters in Mingora that he saw no problem in implementing the agreement reached with Maulana Sufi.

He expressed the hope that normality would return to Swat and Nizam-i-Adl regulation would be implemented in its true spirit.