Militant influence creeping across Pakistan

Lahore: For months, the terrible events unfolding in the conflict-torn Swat valley in the North-west Frontier Province, have caused a deep unease across Pakistan. But now the fear has spread itself across the country.

Militants operating in the valley have been able to close down all schooling for girls, leaving 80,000 pupils out of the classroom, and stories are reported of daily executions in the main square in the region's capital Mingora. This is a daily reminder of how much power militants now wield.

Several days ago a resident was murdered for failing to keep his shalwar (loose pyjamas) above his ankle, as per orders issued by the militants who maintain this is necessary to perform proper ablutions before prayer.

A woman was killed after being publicly humiliated because she refused to give up work as a school teacher.

The young widow, who supported three young children, turned down a militant offer to accept charity and insisted she wanted to earn a dignified living rather than take hand-outs.

Women activists staged a rally in Lahore demanding the rights of women in Swat be protected. Candlelight vigils have also been held in Islamabad and other cities. The outcry from politicians in the North West Frontier Province (NWFP) has also led to heated discussion in Parliament.

The Awami National Party (ANP), which forms the government in the NWFP, has been especially vocal, demanding action and accusing the federal government of not doing enough. The liberal, left-leaning party, which did especially well in the February 2008 polls, has taken much of the heat of militant fury with several bomb blasts targeting rallies. Today, senior members of the party have been forced behind closed doors because of the security threat they face.

The Pakistan military and its civilian leadership have vowed to defeat the militants.

But there is already evidence that the action now initiated against extremist groups may have come too late.

In the city of Quetta, the capital of the south western Balochistan province, restaurants have banished women from their premises, refusing to serve them.

The action is said to have come after threats made by militants, with "Gents Only" signs going up outside some establishments. In Lahore, since October last year, there have been three bombs targeting cafes where young couples meet or at places of entertainment.

In Peshawar, incidents of kidnapping and murder indicate burgeoning militant control. Reports also hint at the growing Taliban influence in the port mega-city of Karachi.

"It is making all of us very anxious. If this can happen in a big city like Mingora, it can happen anywhere," said student Tabassum Parveen.