SWAT/SHANGLA: Continuing to protest the recent blasts at the counter-terrorism ammunition depot in the Kabal police station, people of Swat district on Friday said that “any attempt to reinstall militants” on Pakhtun soil would be strongly resisted.

A rally was taken out in the Manglawar area by local elders and civil society members, while a demonstration was staged in the Matta Bazaar by the Swat Qaumi Jirga.

Leaders of all political parties, elders and civil society activists attended protests in large numbers.

The speakers included Malik Ihsanullah Khan, Rahul Amin Nayab, Ayoub Asharey, Al-Haj Zahid Khan, Dr Amjad, Mukhtiyar Yousafzai, Sher Shah Khan Fazal Gahffar, Majid Khan, Adalat Khan, Sher Badar Khan, retired Brigadier Dr Mohammad Saleem Khan and Abdul Jabbar Khan.

Rallies staged in Swat, Shangla against police station blasts

They said the people of Swat district and other parts of Khyber Pakhtunkhwa wouldn’t tolerate militancy or any other trouble on their soil.

The speakers said Pakhtuns were ruthlessly killed in the country during the last three decades.

They said Pakhtuns were tired of burying their community members killed for no fault of theirs and understood the reality of militants, so they would no more tolerate such “dramas” on their land.

The speakers said Pakhtuns were united against all forms of militancy, and if any attempt was made to “reinstall” militants on their soil, Pakhtuns would offer strong resistance.

They said that it was strange that for the last few months, militants had been attacking public places and police despite the heavy presence of the military, while the rest of the country was peaceful.

The speakers said they would no more “beg for peace” and would rather fight militants if the state failed to ensure peace in their areas.

They said militants and their sponsors would face serious consequences for disturbing peace in Pakhtun areas.

The participants passed a resolution demanding a judicial inquiry into the Kabal police station blasts to bring facts to light. They warned if the demand wasn’t met, their protests would continue.

In Alpuri area of Shangla district, scores of people took to the streets after Friday prayers to protest the “resurgence” of terrorism in Malakand division.

The rally was called by the Shangla Olasi Pasoon (Shangla Public Movement) and attended by political and social activists, traders and people from other walks of life.

Carrying banners and placards, the protesters shouted slogans for elimination of terrorism and restoration of peace.

The speakers demanded a “transparent” probe into the Kabal blasts, strict action against culprits and elimination of militancy from the region.

Mian Tufail Khan of the Jamaat-i-Islami said over 80,000 Pakhtuns had rendered their lives in the so-called fight against terrorism but authorities never took the issue seriously and therefore, terrorism had resurfaced.

He said that the Malakand division couldn’t afford further damage to public life and property from terrorism.

Lawyer Salman Shah said that Pakhtuns had never seen the chief justice of the Supreme Court take a suo motu notice of blasts on their soil despite the killing of many Pakhtuns.

He insisted that the courts focused their attention on political issues. The lawyer said that Pakhtuns were always targeted by vested interests to claim American dollars.

Another speaker, Noorullah Yousafzai, said Pakhtuns won’t allow the killing of their community members by militants. He said that the state should protect Pakhtuns and ensure elimination of the so-called terrorism.

“We [Pakhtuns] always stood with our police brethren and will continue doing so,” he said.

He condemned the Swat CTD depot blasts and demanded of authorities to investigate the explosions “transparently” and bring culprits to justice.

Published in Dawn, April 29th, 2023