IT appears as if time has finally arrived in Pakistan to deal with the Taliban in a definite manner and state, both by action and word, as to who is who and what is what.

The Pakistan government and its various arms have done enough foot-dragging on the issue, with the result that the Taliban, of whatever ilk, are knocking at the front door. It may not be very long when they will be emboldened enough to pull down all barriers and force their way in.

The Swat peace deal with TNSM chief Sufi Muhammad is already a shambles. The NWFP government may come across as one that has appeased the Taliban and may have gone against its own 'secular' grain in the interest of peace but it at least kept its side of the agreement.

It is the Taliban leader and his coterie who have reneged on their promise to lay down their weapons.

Even Imran Khan has said that Sufi Mohammad is not just violating the accord but is going against the Holy Quran by breaking promises.

Sufi Mohammad's academic credentials are questionable but nothing prevents him from making absurd declarations.

He considers all such parliamentarians who opposed the promulgation of Nizam-i-Adl Regulation as non-Muslims and says that MQM chief Altaf Hussain has nothing to do with Islam.

The MQM was the only party to openly oppose the passing of Nizam-e-Adl Regulation 2009 by the National Assembly. Two MNAs — Ayaz Amir and Nausheen Saeed — also had the gumption to stand up in the House and speak for the silent majority by expressing their serious reservations about the new law.

This is the time for the silent majority in Pakistan to stand up and protest against the brutal and uneducated extremists or it will be silenced forever. Pakistan's democratically-elected government has strong moral ground to reverse the deal as it is the Tehrik-i-Nifaz-i-Shariat-i-Muhammadi that has violated the terms and is now talking and behaving in a manner that shows nothing but its stark greed for power.

The government can seize the advantage now or lose it forever.

SYED JAWAID IQBAL

Karachi