MINGORA: A hard-line cleric sent by Pakistan to talk to the Taliban is demanding the government establish Islamic courts in the troubled Swat Valley by mid-March or risk a wave of protests.

The demand Sunday by Sufi Muhammad threatens to undermine a shaky peace process already facing international criticism.

The provincial government made the pledge to establish Islamic courts to Sufi Muhammad, a pro-Taliban cleric whose son-in-law heads the Swat Taliban. Muhammad said Sunday he was unhappy with the government's pace on fulfilling its promise.

'I'm not seeing any practical steps for the implementation of the peace agreement, except for ministers visiting Swat and uttering words,' the elderly cleric told reporters in the main Swat city of Mingora.

He set a March 15 deadline for the Islamic courts to start running and said all other cases being held in regular courts should be stopped immediately. Muhammad also said that the Taliban and the government should release each other's prisoners by the same date and that both sides should immediately abide by an agreement that includes no public displays of weapons.

He said that if the courts deadline was not met, his followers would stage peaceful protests in Swat and surrounding areas.

Past peace deals with militants, including one in Swat last year, have failed, often giving the extremists time to regroup and rearm.

Officials say their pledge on Islamic law will not include the harsh interpretations adhered to by many Taliban, such as banning girls from getting an education.

However, there also has been no public acknowledgment of any provision in an agreement that would require the Swat militants to give their arms.