MINGORA: The Swat Qaumi Jirga on Thursday announced conditional support for the proposed establishment of a cantonment in Swat district.

While making the announcement, it said the government should ensure that after its establishment, the army is restricted to the cantonment and checkposts are manned by the police and not the army personnel.

The jirga met at Wadudia Hall in Saidu Sharif here, where officials of the civil administration of Malakand division and Swat district, the people’s elected representatives, elders and leaders of political parties were in attendance.

The participants discussed the law and order situation in the area.

It later passed a joint declaration favouring the establishment of Swat cantonment and demanding payment to landowners at market rate.

Demands military be confined to cantonment, checkposts be manned by police

The jirga also urged the provincial government to allot land to the federal government before seeking funds for the cantonment’s establishment.

It demanded that the federal government approve a comprehensive plan for Swat under the Public Sector Development Programme with an aim to develop the militancy-hit areas.

It also called for the immediate start of work on the proposed Swat Expressway, saying the project will help the district’s development.

The jirga demanded that both federal and provincial governments make every effort to promote tourism in Swat, while steps should be taken to rebuild schools destroyed by militants.

It said the Provincial Rehabilitation and Settlement Authority should focus on the reconstruction of damaged schools instead of initiating other activities in the district.

Noted among speakers were politician Afzal Khan Lala, Malakand division commissioner Afsar Khan, MPAs Fazal Hakeem Khan and Dr Haidar Ali Khan, Swat deputy commissioner Mehmood Aslam Wazir, SRSP director Ihsanullah Khan and Buner political leader Afsar Khan, who urged everyone concerned to work jointly for maintaining law and order in the region.

They said local residents and security forces had rendered great sacrifices for the restoration of peace in Malakand division, especially in Swat district and that they thought the presence of the army in the area was essential.

The speakers said local police should be given the latest weapons and modern training to help them maintain law and order.

They said the army’s role in the district should be restricted to the proposed cantonment.

Some speakers demanded easier examination of the people at checkpoints to save them from trouble.

Published in Dawn, December 12th, 2014