MINGORA, March 1: The Swat peace accord came under severe pressure on Sunday when TNSM chief Maulana Sufi Mohammad demanded appointment of qazis and release of prisoners by March 15 as two Frontier Corps soldiers were injured in an attack on their convoy and an FC commandant was kidnapped.

The chief of Tehrik-i-Nifaz-i-Shariat-i-Mohammadi said at a press conference that he was dissatisfied with the steps taken by the NWFP government.

The Maulana told newsmen that although the government had announced that the Nizam-i-Adl Regulation would be enforced in the Malakand division, the courts were still following un-

Islamic laws.

He threatened to set up protest camps if the government did not enforce Sharia and the Taliban and the authorities did not release prisoners by March 15.

Immediately after the press conference, Malakand commissioner Syed Mohammad Jawed and Swat DCO Khushhal Khan held a meeting with Sufi Mohammad and reiterated the government’s commitment to enforce the Nizam-i-Adl Regulation.

The commissioner announced that the TNSM chief himself would interview candidates for the posts of qazis to be appointed in the region before March 15.

He told newsmen he had received from the Maulana a list of prisoners who would be released in phases after scrutiny.

The commissioner’s statement about the appointment of qazis is a reversal of the stand taken by the provincial government that the qazis would be regular judicial officers, but in Malakand they would be called qazis.

On Saturday, however, TNSM spokesman Amir Izzat had said that his organisation was satisfied with the steps taken by the government.

Sufi Mohammad said that only those people would be appointed qazis who met the Sharia criteria, ‘in appearance, personal conduct and character’.

“Our basic objective is enforcement of Islamic Sharia,” he added.

He said that whoever violated the peace agreement, the government or the Taliban, would be held responsible in accordance with Sharia law.

Two FC soldiers were injured when a convoy transporting sick soldiers was attacked near Sirsanai area.

According to an FC press release, troops opened fire on militants after two bombs exploded near the convoy.

It called the attack a violation of the peace agreement and said security forces had urged the quarters concerned to rein in militants. The security forces were exercising maximum restraint, the press release added.

The district commandant of the Frontier Constabulary was kidnapped along with four guards and a driver in Kumbar area.

Official sources said commandant Ahsamuddin Khan was going to Mingora when the incident took place.

No one has claimed responsibility.

A few days ago, Swat DCO Khushhal Khan was taken away by militants from the same area. He was freed after a few hours.
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