SWAT: Provincial Minister for Forests, Environment, Climate Change and Wildlife Fazal Hakeem Khan Yousafzai said on Wednesday that no one would be allowed to disturb the peace of Malakand division in the name of military operations.

He was addressing a peace rally at Nishat Chowk in Mingora. Mingora mayor Shahid Ali Khan and MPA Ali Shah Khan also addressed the gathering.

A large number of Pakistan Tehreek-i-Insaf workers, lawyers, traders and elders participated in the rally. Carrying white flags, people from different areas marched to Nishat Chowk. They also chanted slogans for peace.

The minister said that Swat was completely peaceful and there were no extremist elements so there was no need for a military operation. He said that people were not against any institution.

“This is our country and all the institutions of the country are also ours,” he said. He added that Chief Minister Ali Amin Gandapur also clearly stated that no one including institutions would be allowed to take law into their hands.

He said that the PTI government focused on finding solution to problems of people. “We respect law and Constitution of country, but other parties and institutions consider themselves above the law,” he said.

The minister said that the people of Swat endured enough hardships and they were not ready to bear such hardships anymore. He warned the troublemakers that the present provincial government would not allow anyone to do so. “It is a government of the poor and for the poor. We understand the pain and sufferings of the poor and will resolve their issues,” he claimed.

He said that those, who lived in palaces and thrived in London, had no sense of the miseries of poor. “The elected public representatives and the people of Swat have woken up and no one can deceive them now,” he added.

Mayor Shahid Ali Khan said on the occasion that Swat was a tourist area and its peace would not be disturbed. He said that a movement for peace started in Swat, which would spread throughout the province.

On the occasion, a peace walk was also held under the leadership of Fazal Hakeem Khan Yousafzai, Shahid Ali Khan and MPA Ali Shah Khan. The walk passed through Nishat Chowk and ended at Sohrab Chowk.

Published in Dawn, July 4th, 2024