Den of terror now a beacon of love

Flower festival at TTP’s ex-HQ brings back Swat residents’ smiles

SWAT: Adorned with beautiful flowers and accompanied by traditional folk music, what was once the prominent headquarters of Tehreek-e-Taliban Pakistan [TTP] in Imam Dheri, Swat is now a centre of attraction for the city’s residents for a much different reason.

Full of fragrances and colours, the flower festival kicked off on April 21 and will continue till the 30th of the month.

The five-kanal [3,025 square yards] landscape has been decorated with different types of flowers, trees, bushes and other plants and is accompanied by mesmerising traditional music, providing a treat for Swat residents who had been living in fear since 2007 when the military conducted its first operation.

Operation Rah-e-Haq was held in 2007 against the infamous Mullah Fazlullah of the TTP who had set up a madrassa at the location. Later in 2009, the army bombed the place under Operation Rah-e-Rast displacing about 2.5 million residents of the area.



About 200 people a day come to enjoy the fragrances of flowers, scenery and music, said event organiser Sultan-e-Rome. The social worker planted around 12,000 flowers to turn a place which was once in ruins into a centre of attraction.

“It’s a self-sponsored festival,” said Sultan-e-Rome. “It’s an effort to bring back smiles on the faces of those who had suffered in the era of Taliban and were displaced in the military operation. We have almost succeeded.”

Sultan-e-Rome, also known as king of flowers, has a special liking for roses. From floribunda rose to the alpine rose, you name it, he’s got it.



“We have suffered at the hands of the Taliban followed by the military operation, but an endeavour like this has eliminated the fear that we had,” said Khairur Rehman, who was visiting the event. “We appreciate this hard work.”

Fragrance, music and the cold water of Swat River has reminded residents of what life was like in the district before it turned into a war zone. Visitors were of the view that the all season flower garden is expected to return normalcy to the district.