Pak sends 4,000 troops to NWFP

Military spokesman Maj Gen Waheed Arshad on Wednesday said the paramilitary troops had been deployed to stop the illegal activities of Maulana Faizullah, a radical cleric who is popularly known as the 8220;FM Maulana8221; for his fiery sermons and edicts broadcast on an illegal FM radio station.

Faizullah is the leader of the band Tanzim Nifaz-e-Shariat Muhammadi and has thousands of followers.

Reports from Swat, located 50 km from Peshawar, said the troops were advancing towards Faizullah8217;s madrasa. Many people were fleeing the region as they were apprehensive about the outbreak of violent clashes.

Meanhwile, Musharraf8217;s 8220;constitutional package8221; for the Northern Areas has been dismissed as 8220;cosmetic8221; as it leaves unresolved the constitutional status of the region, particularly in regard to an independent judiciary and adult franchise, The Dawn daily said, adding, 8220;It is silent on the need for an independent judiciary and the right of adult franchise.8221;

8220;For decades Islamabads bureaucracy has been treating the region as a virtual colony by denying its people internal autonomy or provincial status,8221; the daily reported on Wednesday. Musharraf announced a package on Tuesday to give financial and administrative autonomy to the Northern Areas.