Protest erupts in Swat against militancy

Speakers say no one will be allowed to sabotage hard-won peace in the district

SWAT:

A large protest was held in Matta area of Swat district of Khyebr-Pakthunkhwa (K-P) against the deteriorating law and order situation and return of militancy.

Thousands of people including students, civil society members, traders, lawyers, political workers of all parties and writers and poets attended the protest.

Khurshid Kaka Jee, MNA Mohsin Dawar, Manzoor Pashteen and Ayub Shari addressed the protest and said that lawlessness will not be tolerated in Swat anymore.

They demanded of the government to play its role in maintaining law and order situation in the district as well as across the province.

“The people of Swat district have paid a price for the peace in the district and no one will be allowed to sabotage it,” they added.

The participants demanded of the Chief Minister Mahmood Khan to empower local police to take action against the militants to eliminate this scourge.

It may be mentioned here that widespread protests are being held across Swat against the return of militant bands who have established camps on the mountain tops in different localities.

Militants suddenly appeared in Swat in August and they even kidnapped a DSP of police who went to the mountains to check the presence of militants.

The DSP was later released by the militants along with three others and they released even a video of their captives.

Local residents have started guarding their villages on self-help basis after the fall of darkness as police have been asked not to go out of the police station during night.

At least seven employees of a local mobile company were also kidnapped by militants for ransom but later all them were released.

Local MPAs and MNAs are also receiving constant calls from militants for the payment of extortion without inviting any attention.

Due to lawlessness traders and wealthy locals have started shifting to other parts of the province.

“You will find hundreds of people at the passport office as they are trying to go abroad before complete lawlessness grip the district,” said a local resident, adding that the flow of tourists had also been reduced considerably.

Published in The Express Tribune, October 1^st, 2022.