Troops to stay in Swat after Islamic law imposed

Islamabad: The Pakistani leadership has decided to keep military troops in Swat even after the imposition of Islamic justice system (Nizame Adl) through a recently signed peace deal.

"The Army will remain in Swat for peacekeeping purpose and will only be pulled out after taking into consideration the situation on ground and all the aspects related to peace in the region," a meeting of Pakistani President Asif Zardari, Prime Minister Yousaf Raza Gillani and Army Chief General Ashfaq Kiyani decided, officials said.

"We will make sure that no one challenges government's writ in the region, and supremacy of law is maintained there," President Zardari was quoted as telling the meeting.

Zardari also vowed not to compromise the war against terror, the country has been in since 9/11.

The government was focusing on its three pronged strategy to handle the situation in the tribal areas, and if peace is achieved through peaceful means then it will be good for the country, officials quoted the power troika.

Chief of Awami National Party (ANP) Asfandyar Wali Khan has hinted about leaving the government if outside pressure mounted against the recently signed peace accord in Swat.

"The peace accord was signed for the people of Swat and if undue pressure was mounted, we might leave the provincial government," Asfandyar told the media.

ANP leads the coalition provincial government in Pakistan's Frontier province, and is also the driving force behind the recent accord with religious cleric and head of Tahree e nifaze Shariat Mohammadi (TNSM) Sufi Mohammad. Swat region comes under the administrative control of the NWFP government as the rest of the tribal area known as FATA are controlled by the federal government.