Article: Can A Deal With Criminals Be Justified?

Lust for money and power has made the rulers of Pakistan mad. They have handed over almost the whole tribal areas and parts of the country to Taliban and terrorists. They are busy in a power game in Islamabad, but the terrorists and Taliban have been killing people, and making the lives of the others very difficult.

According to a report, the Mohmand Agency political administration and Safi tribesmen on Saturday signed a formal agreement to restore lasting peace in the agency. According to the agreement, which was signed at a jirga, the Safi tribe would be bound to ensure safety of government installations and security forces in the area.

Under the agreement, all the sub-clans of the Safi tribe would ensure that no militant activities were taking place in their areas.

The tribesmen would be bound to ensure that security forces and government employees could move freely and safely in the agency. The tribal people would also ensure security on roads passing through their areas. All other tribes of the agency would also be bound by the agreement to deny shelter to foreign elements in their areas.

The government has been making deals with the Taliban and terrorists, but the terrorists have continued their activities. Unidentified gunmen shot dead a prominent religious scholar in a busy Peshawar area on Saturday. Maulana Hassan Jan, a leader of the Jamiat Ulema-i-Islam (Fazl group) and vice-president of the Wafaqul Madaris, was going in a car with three other men to Peshawar's Wazirbagh area. When the car reached a deserted spot, the unknown assailants sprayed it with a volley of bullets.

The shooting happened during Iftar time.

Maulana Jan was 69. He is survived by four sons and a daughter.

Maulana Jan's Friday's sermons used to attract a large number of worshippers to his mosque. He was a vice-president of the Wafaqul Madaris.

Witnesses said they had seen two men escaping in a car after firing at him. They added that they rushed to the spot and saw Maulana Hassan Jan lying in a pool of blood. The incident occurred near Yakatoot police station.

Eyewitnesses said Maulana Jan was rushed to the Lady Reading Hospital, but was immediately pronounced dead.

A large number of mourners and workers of the JUI (F) reached the hospital and took his body to Madrassa Imdadul Uloom, in Cantonment area. He had been a teacher at the madressah.

"It is an act of terrorism aimed at creating unrest," said Mohammad Tahir Khan, a senior police official.

Preliminary investigation revealed, Tahir Khan said, the maulana had gone to Wazirbagh to keep an appointment.

"We have got some leads and are working on them. Right now we have not taken anyone in custody," Mr Tahir told Dawn. He added the police believed the killers were known to Maulana Hassan Jan.

Some party workers said some unknown persons had invited the maulana to perform a Nikah.

Maulana Hassan shot to political prominence in 1990 after defeating the late Khan Abdul Wali Khan of the Awami National Party in a National Assembly election for Charsadda, prompting the latter to announce retirement and end a career spanning 50 years.

Next Page 1 | 2

(Note: You can view every article as one long page if you sign up as an Advocate Member, or higher).