Two radical madrassas that were closed over their links to terrorism have been allowed to resume activities by the Pakistani Government in an attempt to get an Islamic group to support Asif Ali Zardari in this week’s presidential election.

The move came after Jamiat Ulema Islam, a pro-Taleban group, pledged support for Mr Zardari, the widower of Benazir Bhutto and head of the ruling Pakistan Peoples Party, in the election this Saturday. Mr Zardari is almost certain to win.

Permission was granted for the reconstruction of the Hafza madrassa, a seminary attached to the Red Mosque, which was demolished last year during a military raid that killed more than 100 people.

Police have been removed from the Fareedia madrassa, a seminary also linked to the mosque, and the management said the madrassa would start teaching again soon.

A ceasefire was declared in the Bajur tribal region on the border with Afghanistan for the holy month of Ramadan. In the past three weeks Pakistani troops have killed more than 400 militants in Bajur, which is believed to be the main base for al-Qaeda and Taleban militants fighting in Afghanistan.

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