SWAT: The Khyber Pakhtunkhwa Minister for Livestock, Fisheries and Cooperatives, Fazal Hakim Khan Yousafzai, on Friday termed the Swat river incident a heartbreaking national tragedy that has saddened the entire country.

He asserted that those found guilty of negligence during the flooding had no right to any mercy. Speaking to media representatives in Mingora, the minister said that the loss of human lives was irreparable and that action had already been initiated against the departments and officials responsible for the incident.

He was accompanied by PTI Mingora city president and chairman Haider Ali Khan, chairmen Habibullah, Ziaul Haq Tajik, Sohrab Khan, Niamat Shah, and other party office-bearers.

Fazal Hakim Khan while commenting on the ongoing anti-encroachment drive said it should not be used for political point-scoring. Instead, elders should engage constructively with the government and the administration to find a long-term resolution.

Concluding his remarks, he said, “We are working as per the vision of PTI founder Imran Khan, and no one will be subjected to injustice. Transparent investigations into the incident are ongoing, and those found guilty will be brought to justice.”

Published in Dawn, July 13th, 2025