Swatis up against demolition of historical school building

MINGORA: Widespread protests were held in Swat on Saturday against orders to demolish a historical building – the Govt High School Balogram. The building, built in 1940 by Mian Gul Abdul Wadood, the last Wali of the former Swat state, was initially used as a hunting camp.

In 1951, the building was converted into a primary school. Ten years later, the building hosted Queen Elizabeth II of England during her visit to the former princely state.

“The historical building has hosted many guests of the former royal family of Swat. The guests also used to hunt here. Queen Elizabeth stayed in this building during her Swat visit,” Sher Muhammad Khan, the principal of the school, said.

“Several other dignitaries, including former prime minister of Pakistan Liaquat Ali Khan and former president Muhammad Ayub Khan also stayed in this building where they met the local leadership.”

He also said that the building “despite being decades-old was still in pretty sound condition”. Agreeing with the demand, local people called for sparing it from demolition.

“We have emotional attachment with the building as we all acquired our primary education in this building,” said Rizwanullah, one of the school teachers.

Published in The Express Tribune, November 6^th, 2016.