(Xinhua)
Updated: 2008-04-22 14:25

ISLAMABAD -- Government of Pakistan's North West Frontier Province (NWFP)on Monday freed a top militant leader in a reconciliation process with the militants, a government spokesman said.

The NWFP government has released Maulana Sufi Muhammad, the founder of Tehreek-e-Nafaz-e-Shariat-e-Mohammadi (TNSM), said Zahid Khan, Information Secretary of the ruling Awami National Party (ANP).

Sufi Mohammad encouraged and organized thousands of people to fight against the western powers invading Afghanistan at the time of the downfall of the Taliban in 2001. He was arrested in late 2001 after he was returning from Afghanistan, and the TNSM was banned in 2002.

The TNSM is an organization aimed at strictly enforcing Sharia, or Islamic law, in the country.

"The release of Sufi Muhammad will help in containing violence," Zahid Khan said.

Khan said that the release of Sufi Muhammad is the first step and talks are underway between government and militants to free others as part of the reconciliation process.

Maulana Fazlullah, son-in-law of Sufi Mohammad and nicknamed " Mullah Radio", is now leading the TNSM and had been engaged in fierce battle with the security forces in Swat valley of the NWFP.

The new Pakistani government, since its formation in March, haspledged to adopt multi-dimensional measures to deal with the extremism and terrorism, including talks with the militants.