Darul Qaza to begin functioning from May

PESHAWAR:

Swatis will finally realise their dream of a Qazi court with the Darul Qaza scheduled to begin hearing from May 10.

The residents of Swat have demanded the establishment of the court since 1975. The Darul Qaza will begin hearing on 19 cases.

After negotiations with the chief of Tehreek-i-Nifaz-e-Shariat-e-Muhammadi (TNSM) Maulana Sufi Muhammad, the Khyber-Pakhtunkhwa government had announced to set up the Darul Qaza. But another dispute was raised when Muhammad said he will appoint his own people as Qazis.

The Nizam-e-Adl regulation that was approved by President Asif Ali Zardari on April 13, 2009, brought Shariah laws to the area.  Later on February 18, 2010, Khyber-Pakhtunkhwa Chief Minister Ameer Haider Khan Hoti inaugurated the Darul Qaza as a step towards full implementation of the Nizam-e-Adl Regulation in Malakand Agency.

Residents of Swat are joyous with the news that the court will start functioning. Locals believe they will now get speedy justice.

“It was our forefathers’ demand. It has finally been fulfilled. I cannot express my feelings,” said a resident Muhammad Akram.

The regulation was once agreed upon by former prime ministers Benazir Bhutto and Nawaz Sharif in 1994 and 1998 respectively.

Published in The Express Tribune, April 27^th, 2011.