A while back we focused on the Swat situation in the wake of Lal Masjid. Yesterday, Maulana Fazlullah the illegal FM radio cleric ( as he has come be known) ended the “peace deal” with the administration. According to this “deal ” made a few months, Maulana had to disband his illegal radio station in exchange for a promise from the administration not to proceed against him and his supporters . On a side note, interesting that we live in a country where such deals are made by the administration but we digress.
The situation is tense in Swat after this announcement by Maulana Fazalullah given that threatening letters to “stop obscenity” are constantly being received by private individuals and businesses. The situation has now reached a point that the District Coordination Officer has to ask the people to abide by the edicts of the anonymous letters.
What can Swat expect now? Academic Khadim Hussain a keen observer of the Swat situation has shared his thoughts with us in an article titled, “ The genesis of militancy and extremism in Swat” Take a look.