Hyderabad-based, The Munsif, the largest circulated Urdu daily, is preoccupied with affairs in the subcontinent on Thursday, particularly the revolt in Bangladesh Rifles on Page 1, Sharif’s disqualification has also figured prominently in the Thursday edition. Mumbai-based Inquilab yesterday features the filing of the chargesheet in the November attacks as its main story. Earlier, the Pakistan government’s accord with Taliban in the Swat region have been widely commented upon by the Urdu Press. Delhi-based Hindustan Express (Feb. 16) writes: “This is an action after defeat not only by Pakistan but by ‘Uncle Sam’ as well. If we observe deeply, the government has bowed down before Taliban by agreeing to enforce Shariat laws in the areas controlled by them.” The paper says that it is difficult to say if this would bring peace, or simply, “will the morale (hausley) of Maulvi Fazlullah and his supporters rise further?” Hamara Samaj, published from Delhi, in its editorial on February 18 says: “This region would remain peaceful for some time and Zardari Sahib would improve his position in American eyes. Enforcement of Shariat laws is a historic decision in the history of Pakistan (sic) and Pakistan would benefit from it in future.” Delhi-based Jadeed Khabar, in its editorial entitled, ‘Islam phobia’ (Feb 20) writes: “There are no two opinions about incidents of violence perpetrated by Taliban being a very serious challenge to peace and stability in the region and anxiety of the world community (alami biradari) including India is inevitable. But the anxiety expressed by the world community including India with regard to enforcement of Shariat laws in the Swat valley is not only baseless; it also shows that the world even today is obsessed with Islamophobia.”

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