Truce between NWFP, TNSM inked

The NWFP Government and defunct Tehreek Nifaz-e-Shariat-e-Muhammadi (TNSM) Monday evening inked a peace truce whereby both the parties agreed to the settlement of law and order in the restive district Swat through negotiations.After the agreement the Government released detained Chief of TNSM Maulana Sufi Muhammad the same evening after a marathon jirga of Swat held at CM House. Maulana Sufi Muhammad who remained in prison for the last seven years was brought to the jirga in the CM House. Maulana Sufi Muhammad was arrested on his return from Afghanistan via Kurram Agency after the fall of Taliban regime in Kabul. Provincial Senior Ministers Bashir Ahmed Bilour, Rahim Dad Khan, Minister for Forest Wajid Ali Khan and President of ANP Afrasiab Khattak signed the agreement on the behalf the government while from the TNSM, the agreement was signed by Maulana Muhammad Alim, Maulana Abdul Haq, Maulana Samiullah from Dir Lower, Maulana Salar Khan, Saiful Malook, Dr. Ismail, Maulana Samiullah from Buner and Multan Mir.The two page agreement stated that peaceful struggle for the enforcement of Shariat in Malakand Division would be launched. It considered that peace in the district could only be restored through talks. It also impressed upon the people belonging to every segment of the society to work for elimination of anti social elements. It said the TNSM will respect the state institutions so that writ of the government was restored in Malakand Division. It also disowned the institutions, which were fanning hatred and propagating negative propaganda against the government. Moreover action against the army troops and government officials were against Islam, it added.