Taliban ban BISP, co-education in NWA
PESHAWAR: The Taliban in the restive North Waziristan Agency (NWA) on Friday banned the Benazir Income Support Programme (BISP), co-education and sale and consumption of narcotics and alcohol in the tribal region, warning violators of death sentence after January 5 deadline.
The decisions were taken at a meeting of the central Shura of the pro-government Taliban, led by Hafiz Gul Bahadur, at Miramshah on Friday. The decisions of the Shura were later announced in several mosques of the tribal region whereas pamphlets inscribed with the verdict were also distributed.
Announcements were made through loudspeakers in mosques and prayer leaders informed the faithful about the new laws through the Friday sermons. The militant leaders, while criticising the BISP, argued that widows and other poor deserving women from the NWA were forced to visit offices of political administration which, they said, was against the tribal customs and traditions.
“The women of the NWA will then be persuaded to visit Peshawar and Islamabad for the collection of the BISP,” the Shura anticipated, adding initiation of such a programme in the tribal region was meant to morally corrupt the poor tribal women.
The Shura also announced a ban on co-education in the NWA from January 5. In Miramshah, the headquarters of North Waziristan, despite militancy and unrest, some private schools are still imparting co-education. The drug pushers and owners of compact disc (CDs) shops were also warned to wind up their businesses or face the consequences.
The Taliban militants warned of capital punishment for possession of drugs, especially alcohol. “Anyone found in possession of alcohol will be awarded death sentence,” said the announcements made from various mosques of the NWA after the Shura meeting.
The militants also warned the violators of the Shura decisions in North Waziristan Agency of severe punishment. Also, pamphlets were issued at Mirali, NWA, in which the militants warned kidnappers of strict action.
Source: The News
Date:1/3/2009
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