KARACHI:
In recent weeks, the law-and-order situation in Swat has continuously deteriorated. Swat’s residents are afraid that their livelihoods will be threatened once again. Unfortunately, both the provincial and federal governments have turned a blind eye to this situation.
Earlier this week, unidentified men opened fire on a school van in Swat’s Char Bagh area, killing the driver and injuring at least two students. In another incident, three students were injured when a school van was caught in a crossfire as two armed groups clashed. These incidents are extremely alarming because parents are faced with a constant fear of their children being gunned down on their way to school. Eventually, they will be compelled people to stop sending their kids to school. The increased lawlessness has disrupted people’s daily lives, in fact, residents feel unsafe even within their homes.
Last month, thousands of local residents, clerics, members of political parties, and others staged a protest demonstration against the increasing lawlessness in the city. Both provincial and federal governments must pay attention to the people’s grievances and work with law enforcement agencies to restore law and order in Swat.
Usman Torwali
Swat
Published in The Express Tribune, October 12th, 2022.
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