Taliban courts prove absence of Pak Government's writ in Swat: HRCP

Lahore, Jan 28 (ANI): The Human Rights Commission of Pakistan (HRCP) has said that the Taliban's act of summoning politicians and citizens to their so-called Sharia Courts in Swat is a testimony to the absence of the state's writ in the area.

"Repeated official vows of regaining control of the situation in the Swat Valley have been exposed by the extremists' call to politicians to appear before their courts," HRCP said on Tuesday.

"The situation was worsened to this extent largely because of the government's denial of the worsened situation and its inability to jam even a radio station broadcasting propaganda by the Taliban," The News quoted the statement, as saying.

The statement said the government's claims of having control over the area were impossible to believe when citizens were being killed and the illegal Taliban radio station even announces the names of the people who would be killed later.

The commission said the lawmakers had conceded that the government had no control in the area, adding that the government must immediately share a frank assessment of the security situation with the people instead of making false claims.

It urged the government to revise its strategy, which had not worked to restore law and order in Swat.

The HRCP said all the segments of the society, including the religious communities, must not remain spectators of the breakdown of the state apparatus and they should assist the government handle the situation in a more comprehensible manner. (ANI)