ISLAMABAD, Jan 22: President Asif Ali Zardari held a series of meetings on Thursday with top security officials and political leaders from the NWFP on growing militancy in settled areas where militants are trying to enforce their ‘self-styled’ Sharia. He also exchanged views with them on the issue of renaming the NWFP as Pakhtunkhwa.

Two briefings on security issues were given by Inter-Services Intelligence (ISI) Director-General Lt-Gen Shuja Pasha and Adviser to Prime Minister on Interior Rehman Malik.

The president was apprised of the situation in Swat and other troubled areas and there was a realisation that the government should initiate dialogue with militants who were ready to cooperate and would not challenge the writ of the government in future.

Militants are reported to have enforced their brand of Sharia in Swat and destroyed more than 180 educational institutions and killed a number of civilians and soldiers.

President Zardari said the government had evolved a strategy of three Ds — dialogue, development and deterrence — to root out extremism from the country.

“Dialogue for a political settlement in the disturbed regions with those who would not challenge the writ of the state is also an element of the government strategy to deal with the situation,” he was quoted as saying in an official announcement.

Mr Malik briefed the meeting on measures taken to beef up police force and security agencies in the NWFP. The president asked the adviser to present a report on the measures within a week.

“Peace is the foremost priority and that is why the government has pressed into service all available resources to bring stability to the regions affected by extremism,” the president said.

NWFP Chief Minister Ameer Haider Khan Hoti briefed the president on the law and order situation in the province, especially in Swat and Malakand, and raised the issue of reaming the NWFP as Pakhtunkhwa.

Others who attended the meeting included Governor Owais Ahmed Ghani, Law Minister Farooq H. Naik, State and Frontier Regions Minister Najmuddin Khan, Attorney General Sardar Mohammad Latif Khan Khosa, provincial ministers Rahim Dad Khan, Hamayun Khan, Zahir Ali Shah, Mian Iftikhar, Barrister Arshad Abdullah and Bashir Ahmad Bilour and NWFP’s peace envoy Afrasiab Khattak.