Islamabad - Pakistan is considering enforcement of Islamic laws in Pakistan's north-western Swat valley to meet the demands of pro-Taliban militants who briefly seized and then released around 100 security personnel after nine days' fierce fighting that left more than 200 people dead. "The government is considering the implementation of Sharia law in the view of the demands of the local people," said Ali Muhammad Jan Aurakzai, governor of the North-West Frontier Province (NWFP) in which the valley is situated.
"We are trying to resolve the issue through negotiations but if required force will also be used," the DawnNews channel cited him as saying.
The statement came as the Islamic militants said they had released 120 soldiers captured after the clashes in Swat, some 160 kilometres from the NWFP capital Peshawar.
"They have gone to their home towns and they have promised not to work with the security forces in the future," the militants' spokesman Maulana Sirajuddin told reporters.
"They were taken into protective custody," according to Sirajuddin, who had earlier said the policemen and soldiers had surrendered voluntarily on Friday night because "we assured them that they would be allowed to return to their homes safely."
The law enforcers, mainly policemen and paramilitary troops, gave themselves up after being besieged at a police station and a hospital in the Matta area since October 26, when clashes erupted there following the deployment of government forces.
The forces were sent to the area to curb a rebellion by radical cleric Maulana Fazlullah and his armed followers, who were demanding the imposition of Taliban rule in Swat.
Hundreds of heavily armed extremists exchanged heavy fire with the security forces, which pounded their positions in the mountains with artillery fire.
Helicopter gunships were also used in the firefight, which left more than 200 people dead, including dozens of government troops, and hundreds injured.
Earlier, the rebels surrounded and disarmed 48 paramilitary soldiers on Thursday, who were released again Friday.
"We did not want to fight these Muslim brothers (militants) who are striving for the enforcement of Islamic sharia (law)," a captive told reporters before the release.
The major part of the scenic valley remained under the control of Fazlullah and his followers.
Following the surrender of the security personnel, the militants took over two police stations in Matta and Khwazakhela areas and were entrenched on their rooftops, local residents said.
The rebels were also patrolling the area in police cars and armoured vehicles of the paramilitary forces.
The militant commander, Fazlullah, is reportedly being aided by several dozen al-Qaeda militants, who fled into the area after US-led forces invaded Afghanistan in 2001.
But his spokesman said the campaign was totally indigenous at the moment.
"We have not yet asked our brothers in tribal areas and Afghanistan for help," Sirajuddin said.
Meanwhile, the government put the security forces on high alert in the capital city and other major towns amid fears of militant attacks.
Local media were also abuzz with reports that Pakistani President Pervez Musharraf might impose a state of emergency given the volatile political and security situation in the country.
