BATKHELA/MINGORA, May 3 The Tehrik-i-Nifaz-i-Shariat-i-Muhammadi and Swat Taliban have rejected the Darul Qaza set up by the NWFP government and the two judges appointed by it as Qazis, and accused the government of taking unilateral decisions without consulting Maulana Sufi Mohammad.

Talking to newsmen after a meeting of the TNSM Shura at its headquarters in Amandara on Sunday, Tehrik spokesman Amir Izzat Khan said the government had announced the setting up of Darul Qaza in Malakand in violation of an understanding that such decisions would be taken after consultation between the two sides.

Reading out a statement, he said that during the first round of talks with the TNSM at Timergara a few days ago, representatives of the government had promised to take Sufi Mohammad into confidence, stop the military operation in Maidan and Buner and create conditions for early and safe return of displaced people to their homes, but the word was not kept.

On the occasion, Sufi Mohammad said “Delegating Qazis' powers to judges is Ghair Sharai. We want Qazis in accordance with Sharia.” He said the TNSM wanted to transform the judicial system into Islamic Sharia system. “Sharia and democracy are system opposed to each other, and we consider democracy as Kufr (infidelity) and believe in the system of Quran and Sunnah.”

Sufi Mohammad said the Constitution of Pakistan was Islamic, but it was not enforced in letter and spirit.

He said “We are still ready for talks and stand by our promise of restoring peace in Malakand if Sharia is enforced in its true spirit.” He reiterated his stand that there would be no justification for taking up arms after true enforcement of Sharia.

Meanwhile, Swat Taliban spokesman Muslim Khan told newsmen by phone that they would not accept the Darul Qaza which had been set up along with bombing and shelling by planes.

He said the government should stop the military operation and set up Darul Qaza in consultation with Maulana Sufi Mohammad.

He said the Taliban were abiding by the peace agreement signed by the government and the TNSM.

He accused the government of violating the accord by launching military operations in Dir and Buner districts and making preparations for attacks in Swat.

The Taliban spokesman warned of what he called a befitting response if a military operation was undertaken in Swat.

He said Darul Qaza should be a powerful institution which could summon the president, prime minister, Maulana Sufi Mohammad and even Maulana Fazlullah.

He said his organisation had full confidence in Sufi Mohammad and would follow his directives about Darul Qaza and Qazi courts. Muslim Khan said the government had arrested 40 Taliban and several innocent local people. He claimed that about 25 security personnel who were in the custody of the Taliban would be freed as soon as possible.

He denied that foreign states had been supplying arms to the Taliban and said they had snatched weapons from Pakistani security forces.