SWAT – In accordance with Khyber Pakhtunkhwa government’s commitment to the enforcement of shari’ah, Dar-ul-Qaza was inaugurated in Malakand by Chief Minister Amir Haider Khan Hoti on Tuesday.
Equal in stature to the Circuit Bench of Peshawar High Court, Dar-ul-Qaza has been opened in a rented building, with 2 kanals also having been allocated for the building. The ceremony was attended by provincial ministers including Bashir Ahmad Bilour, Mian Iftikhar Hussain, Wajid Ali Khan, Mohammad Ayub Khan, Sardar Hussain Babak, Haji Hidayat Ullah Khan, with the Anti-Terrorist Courts being represented by Justice Iqbal Khan and Asim Imam.
Expressing pleasure, Chief Minister Amir Haider Khan Hoti termed it a “victory of the people.” He advised the people of Malakand, especially from Swat, to become united for return of peace and elimination of terrorism. “Militants have ruined the image of Islam, but we will, through our three-tiered plan, restore its original, peaceful image,” Hoti said, adding that because of introduction of shari’ah, pending cases were reduced to 39,000 from 48,000.
Lawyers will be facilitated fully, Hoti said, adding that seats for additional, deputy and assistant advocate generals for Dar-ul-Qaza had already been filled.
“We are rehabilitating Swat with a budget of Rs 6.5 million, of which Rs 2 million has already been spent,” he said, adding that more schools will be constructed as soon as the rest of the funds are received.
The CM also laid the foundation stone of Ayub Bridge on Swat River which will connect Kanju, Matta and Kabal Tehsils with Mingawara and Saidu Sharif and was washed away in the recent floods.
