Re: Sharia Law in NWFP
I think "thejoke" has made valid points about the people in those regions.
I've actually myself had worse experience in Madyan, we were touring the area with a Co-Ed group (you know university tours) and believe the people starting throwing stones at us because we had women accompanying us in the group.
The hotel I stayed in, the owner was very emphatic about not eating anywhere else except his kitchen because it was a matter of prestige for him.
I swear the little kids of these regions have so much life in them, they follow you begging for just a single rupee and when you give it to them, their eyes just glare up.
Another time in swat, I had breakfast in one of the hotels. My bill was for Rs 78, and I gave him Rs 100 and there I am standing for him to return me my change and he is completely ignoring me busy with his work. I inquired where is my change and he is like lets just call it even at Rs 100. Interestingly, he did not know how to calculate so it was me who had calculated the total for him. Since I was outnumbered I said no problem, this is between brothers and left. I came back the next day and had breakfast again and just subtracted the amount he owed me from the total and called it even and he was happy with it without knowing I had already settled the score with him.
Now this is the type of people you deal with over there. Anyone who thinks they understand Islam or even fairly familiar with the fundamentals of ethics are dreaming and dead-wrong.
These people need basic education and ethics more than anything but it is very hard for them to realize this as it becomes a matter of honor for them very quickly. Women are their trophies not wives and truly a lower-caste in their society. Their instincts are not toned enough for acccepting anything other than their own stereotypical personalities. We have a very very long way to go with these people and these uprisings/insurgencies are just the beginning of their evolution.
As for the article, I think one law should rule the whole country. Especially isolating the justice system in one district is not fair to the people over there. Sharia is a fluid thing depending on the dynamics of the society. One thing for sure when they see their businesses in loss because of loss of tourism they will be reacting very quick to this and most probably the provincial government will be releasing an array of propaganda against the fed for not supporting these people. People in these regions come to urban areas for earning a living, most of the money they make in their own turf is through tourism and visitors.