MINGORA: The Swat Qaumi Jirga on Thursday showed deep concern over the targeted killings of peace volunteers and asked the government to take concrete steps for protecting elders and members of village defence committees in the district.

The jirga also expressed reservations over establishment of cantonment in the district and demanded of federal government and Chief of Army Staff Gen Raheel Sharif to review the decision in the better interest of the people of Swat.

The jirga members demanded of the government to establish a university for women in the district and name it after Nobel laureate Malala.

The demands were made during a meeting of the jirga held here at Swat Press Club on Thursday. The meeting was addressed by Swat Qaumi Jirga members Mukhtiar Khan Yousafzai, Mohammad Ali Khan, Haji Zahid Khan, Malik Riaz, Shamsher Ali Khan, Ahmad Shah, Abdul Khaliq, Fazale Maula, Khurshid Kakajee, ANP leader Wajid Ali Khan, QWP leader Sher Bahadar Khan and PPP leader Iqbal Hussain.

Expresses reservations about proposed establishment of cantonment

The speakers said that peace volunteers were targeted despite restoration of peace in the region. The situation reflected failure of the government, they added.

They said that the civil administration should be empowered to improve the law and order.

It was needed to hand over legal weapons to the people of the area for their protection, they said, adding that security forces should carry out their activities on the basis of solid intelligence information in a certain locality instead of imposing curfew in the entire area as it caused difficulties to the local people.

The speakers showed reservations over the proposed construction of cantonment in the district and demanded of Prime Minister Mian Nawaz Sharif and Army Chief Gen Raheel Sharif to review the decision.

They also demanded removal of security personnel from civil population and government schools.

The speakers said that Pakhtun were peace loving people but they were labelled as terrorists and extremists under a conspiracy.

Through a written declaration, the jirga demanded of the government to establish an engineering university and a ‘Malala university for women’ in the district to impart technical education to students, particularly to girls.

The jirga also demanded of the government to declare tourism as industry in Swat and take steps for its promotion. Swat Museum should be reopened for the tourists and local visitors, it said.

The jirga asked the provincial government to rebuild damaged roads in the district on war footings to promote tourism there.

It also demanded of the government to establish an industrial estate and launch more hydel power projects in Swat.

Published in Dawn, October 30th, 2014