Militants in Swat have threatened to blow up all female schools if they are not closed by January 15, 2009 which will plunge 119248 girl students into the darkness of ignorance and render 3425 women teachers jobless. There has also been slaughtering, beheadings and extortion in the name of Islam in FATA and NWFP for the last several years. The majority of people feel besieged and thus clueless and abandoned. The threat is based on completely misguided interpretation of Islam. It is based on many implicit assumptions: 1. Sending girls to schools is against the teachings of Shariat. 2. It is also against pakhtoon code of honor 3. People who hold this view have the right to stop families sending their daughters to school 4. Use of violence to enforce their views is morally, legally and religiously justified 5. Fellow Muslim citizens, police and military personnel, lawmakers, law enforcement agencies, politicians and public opinion makers should support their views because they reflect the true spirit of Islam. Closing down the schools will deprive thousands of families in the once educated and civilized society of Swat of dignity, honor and peace of mind. We the citizens of Swat and other areas of Pakistan want to find out if our religious, political leaders, scholars, heads of political parties, public opinion makers, jurists and lawmakers are not duty bound to: 1. Clearly state their position on use of violence against violation of basic legal rights of female students in Swat. 2. Support the vulnerable, hurt and unjustly treated and innocent female students 3. Use all political, social and legal means to protect the rights of women who have been wronged without any reason. 4. Hold debate on this issue on the floor of parliament in the media and public domain to educate the public opinion. 5. Take all necessary measures to prevent Pakistan from sliding into state of complete chaos, lawlessness and anarchy.

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