WORLD BRIEFING / PAKISTAN
Pakistani President Asif Ali Zardari signed a regulation to put a northwestern district under Islamic law as part of a peace deal with militants, after coming under intense pressure from his party’s members and other lawmakers.
Islamic militants have terrorized the Swat Valley for nearly two years, seeking to impose their own justice system. Zardari’s move was sure to further anger rights activists and feed fears among Western allies that the valley, bordering Afghanistan, will become a haven for militants.
The National Assembly had voted unanimously to adopt a resolution urging Zardari’s signature. It implemented a cease-fire deal agreed to in February by provincial officials.
Zardari had put off signing the agreement, saying he wouldn’t until peace was restored in Swat but never defining what that meant.
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