'Taleban Law' passed in Pakistan

[The White Knight]

Pakistan's North West Frontier Province (NWFP) has passed a bill setting up a Taleban-style department under a cleric to enforce Islamic morality.

It gives the new department the power to use the police and media for the promotion of Islamic values.

The NWFP is governed by an alliance of religious parties, the MMA, that is sympathetic to the Taleban.

It has already introduced measures such as the banning of music on public transport.
...
Last year, the province's governor refused to sign a similar bill into effect, and the Supreme Court declared aspects of the proposed law unconstitutional.
...
Last year, President Pervez Musharraf denounced the original bill as a breach of fundamental human rights.

... (read the full article here on BBC NEWS)

And some info on the Hisba Bill on wikipedia here.

Personally I don't think that's a good development at all.

[Caelius]

It shouldn't be unexpected though, if that region were to declare independence from the rest of Pakistan tomorrow there wouldn't be anything Musharraf could do about it aside from sending in the Army. It's almost like the Wild West in that area, the government has almost no control over it.

[Denny Crane!]

Yes and he can in no way assert his control over it as that region is possibly the worst in the world for an army to try to subdue both because of its population and its unbelievable landscape.

Peter

[Bovril]

Perhaps it would be helpful if the governement of Pakistan ceased it U.S. sponsored war on the region and actually tried to integrate its population into the country at large through welfare programs, peace talks, and the like.

[Da Skinna]

I hope to God Musharraf has some aces in his sleeve...

[Erik]

I hope to God Musharraf has some aces in his sleeve...

I think his best option is to allow the region to split off.
That way America can invade the newly formed country without Pakistan having to get involved in any way.
What good is the region for Pakistan anyways?

hhhmmm didn't ring a bell - could you give me at least one example of state using sharia law as main law and don't be misguided in this aspect??? - I'm asking cause frankly I don't remember one.

In Iran 60% of university students are female.

[Wild Bill Kelso]

Kind of unrelated.. but I have a question.. I wonder how Taleban or Sharia law handles things like a woman's PAP test.. Since under the law I imagine women can't exactly become doctors, and I don't imagine this interpretation of Islam would allow a doctor to check out another man's wife in such a personal manner....

[Da Skinna]

Good question though. I guess they let their women fester and die or something...

But I really do hope Musharaf has something up his sleeve to keep the place as civil as it could be, I don't think a nuclear power losing its government to these kinds of extremist elements is any good. Would be bad, thinking about it now...

[sephodwyrm]

I wonder how Taleban or Sharia law handles things like a woman's PAP test..

Sharia law dictates that women should be educated.
The Taliban are completely misguided in this aspect.

[KaerMorhen]

Sharia law dictates that women should be educated.
The Taliban are completely misguided in this aspect.

hhhmmm didn't ring a bell - could you give me at least one example of state using sharia law as main law and don't be misguided in this aspect??? - I'm asking cause frankly I don't remember one.

[Bovril]

Sharia law is not a unified legal code, like say, the law of the US or UK. It is an ever evolving project to extract legal principals for use in the society of the day from the Koran and Hadithas. As such, it does not have all that many absolute rules compared to a modern legal code. Still, under most interpretations of Sharia women can become doctors, and male doctors are allowed to do gynochological work. Iran is a good example of a country with a Sharia based legal system where these things go on.

[Denny Crane!]

The USA invade Warizistan? Are you kidding seriously?

That region will never be invaded (successfully)

Peter

[Erik]

The USA invade Warizistan? Are you kidding seriously?

That region will never be invaded (successfully)

Same could be said about southern Afghanistan.

I think America has very little choice.
If they allow the Taliban to come back they can also expect terrorism to come back to New York.
And the only way to defeat the Taliban is by going into Waziristan.

Personally I think America can defeat the Taliban in both Afghanistan and Waziristan.
But they have to make a real effort, and not get distracted by Iraq/Iran/Syria/etc. again.

[Denny Crane!]

The difference is liberating a populace and fighting the population. There is nothing to suggest that anyone in waziristan wants to be liberated.

Peter

[Shaun]

The difference is liberating a populace and fighting the population. There is nothing to suggest that anyone in waziristan wants to be liberated.

Peter

I dont think America cares about the local populace, they would more care about their homeland security.

[Denny Crane!]

I dont think America cares about the local populace, they would more care about their homeland security.

Its not about caring or not caring it is about the feasability of a military operation and how much opposition they will face.

With Waziristan they have an extremely hostile populace to anyone but themselves, they have a long history of tribalism and independance and have fought off many armies over the centuries. Many years of practice at guerrila warfare in the most ideal region with the absolute support of the local populace.

Sound feasible to you?

Peter

[Erik]

With Waziristan they have an extremely hostile populace to anyone but themselves, they have a long history of tribalism and independance and have fought off many armies over the centuries. Many years of practice at guerrila warfare in the most ideal region with the absolute support of the local populace.

And this makes Waziristan different from southern Afghanistan....how?

[Denny Crane!]

And this makes Waziristan different from southern Afghanistan....how?

There are parts of south Afghanistan where all of what I have said applies as well. In fact the tribes in question inhabit both sides of the border. I do not believe it is a winnable situation. The best that can be hoped for is a cessation of hostilities.

That is why the British have not invaded it and have no intention of doing so, they are there merely to protect rebuilding and counteract insurgencies in the areas they are based. You will not find them invading the mountains in question.

Peter

[Miraj]

I support this new Sharia legislature.

Enacting Shariah law is the first step towards secularizing the Muslim world.

Here's how it works:

(Step 1) Muslims frustrated with foreign interference
(Step 2) Muslims embrace Islamism and enact Islamic laws
(Step 3) Muslims get oppressed the crap out of and watch their society go further down the gutter of religious ignorance, bigotry and cruelty
(Step 4) Muslim dissillusioned with Islamic law
(Step 5) Muslims start dissenting against Islamic law
(Step 6) Muslims crushed and silenced by Islamists
(Step 7) Repeat Step 5 with further intensity until..
(Step 8) Muslims overthrow Islamist regime, embrace secularism and learn their lesson


This is already happening in Iran. Iran is around Step 4. But the remember this process can only work as long as the West stay the ****** out of our bizness. Every time the the West interferes and starts bullying Muslim countries it resets right back to step 1.

[Carach]

ha...

their image of being an american ally gets harder and harder for them to defend (well actually, that was shot down in flames several months ago..)

Bush needsto revise his 'axis of evil list' lol

I feel sorry for those sane members of the pakistani government that were ignored.