Swat lawyers concerned over Sufi's warning against judiciary

Peshawar, Mar. 18 (ANI): Lawyers' associations have expressed serious concern over TNSM chief Sufi Mohammad's warning to the Swat lower judiciary against attending courts in the Valley.

The Swat District Bar Association (SDBA) and NWFP lawyer bodies said on Tuesday that the move would create a judicial crisis in the Malakand Division, the Daily Times reports.

SDBA President Aftab Alam said the Qazi (Sharia) courts were deciding cases only on simple applications and there were no proper proceedings of cases in these courts.

"The SDBA will meet NWFP governor and law minister on Wednesday to express their concern over the current judicial crises in the district," he said, adding that the appointed qazis who would give decisions under Islamic laws, were not so trained.

He urged the government either to immediately settle the issue with Sufi to allow the judicial system to function in Swat.

Swat-based high court lawyers said that Sufi was paralyzing judicial system in the region after Taliban caused havoc on the educational and police system.

Peshawar High Court Bar Association (PHCBA) President Abdul Lateef Afridi said Sufi's warning to judicial officers had created an alarming situation in the Malakand Division.

"To stop an organ of the state from functioning is a very serious issue. Both the provincial and federal governments should immediately take up the issue with Sufi," said Afridi who is also a central leader of Awami National Party.

Renowned constitutional expert Qazi Mohammad Anwar said that the law does not permit a person to stop the judicial system.

"It will be like the law of the jungle to establish own courts and stop judicial system. Sufi and his supporters have their writ in Swat and under the law of the jungle, those having power impose their decisions on others," he said. (ANI)