The last Wali : Swat’s great ruler celebrated

Elders, activists lauded Miangul Jahanzeb for protecting the culture of his land.

MINGORA: To commemorate the rule of the last Wali of Swat, Miangul Abdul Haq Jahanzeb, an event was organised on Sunday by social activists and elders of the valley. Scholars, writers, poets and teachers paid tribute to Jahanzeb and remembered the golden era of Swat under his rule.

“The land of Swat was the cradle of various civilisations and their ruins [of their buildings] still lie scattered everywhere. Its soil even witnessed the presence of Buddha,” Mohammad Pervesh Shaheen, a scholar and historian said in his speech. He added Swat was once the seat of learning during the Buddhist era.

Fazal Raziq Shahab, a local writer, highlighted the vision of the Wali of Swat, saying he ensured justice for everyone in the state. “Swat was a model for justice at the time,” he said.

Participants also appreciated Jahanzeb’s role in protecting the rich cultural heritage in Swat. “Fortunately for us, he allowed Italians to excavate different sites in Swat and then established museums in 1958, for which he donated his personal collections of art and artefacts,” said Usman Ulasyar, a cultural activist.

Jahanzeb built a network of schools during his rule to educate the people of Swat. “He constructed hundreds (of schools) and lifted the literacy rate from zero to 20%,” said Syed Kareem Shilmani, an educationist.

The event had been organised by Shehryar Amirzeb, the grandson of the Wali of Swat. “He believed in collectivism and was not in favour of individualism so he could successfully address the concerns of people. He set an example for an ideal state and that is why people remember him so fondly,” said Amirzeb.

Renowned poets from Swat also paid tribute to the last Wali of Swat in their verses.

Published in The Express Tribune, October 13^th, 2014.