LOWER DIR: Leaders of all major political parties and civil society members in Lower Dir on Sunday opposed a proposed military operation in the district, stressing that maintaining peace was the constitutional responsibility of the state.

Addressing a peace moot organised by the Dir Qaumi Pasoon (DQP), a rights’ body working for peace and conflict resolution, in Timergara, speakers cited Article 9 of the Constitution, which guarantees citizens’ right to life and security, and urged the government to fulfil its duty. They said if the state could give a “befitting response” to India, it should have no difficulty in dealing with a ‘handful’ of militants.

The leaders vowed that residents would not leave their homes under any circumstances.

Those who addressed the gathering included DQP chief Malik Jehan Alam Yousafzai, president Malik Shah Naseem, ANP Lower Dir president Haji Bahadar Khan, PTI MPA Malik Shafiullah Khan, JI district chief Maulana Asadullah Khan, former MPAs Malik Bahram Khan, Haji Saeed Gul, PML-N’s Malik Jehan Zeb Khan, Mian Sultan Yousaf Bacha, JUI-F district chief Sirajuddin, PPP Lower Dir president Nawabzada Ahmad Zeb Khan, Alam Zeb Advocate, PTI’s Ali Shah Mishwani, PML-N Lower Dir general secretary Javed Akhtar Advocate, Timergara Traders’ Association president Haji Anwaruddin, PkMAP’s Sartaj Khan, and others.

Political, civil society activists say past operations failed to bring peace to region

Speakers said the people of Lower Dir were loyal, patriotic and peaceful, and their forefathers had always stood by the Pakistan Army, even sacrificing lives in Kashmir. They argued that military action was not a solution, pointing out that over 22 operations had been conducted in the past without lasting results.

They lamented that the Pakhtun belt had suffered unrest for over four decades, during which more than 80,000 people had been killed, thousands disabled, and schools, hospitals, and homes destroyed. They recalled that about five million people from Malakand division had been displaced during past conflicts.

The leaders warned the government and state institutions to address the situation before public patience ran out, cautioning that if the state failed to restore peace, people would be forced to take up arms for their own protection.

PLANTATION DRIVE: The monsoon tree plantation campaign launched by the forest department in Lower Dir is in full swing, with over 7,000 fruit saplings planted across the district.

This was stated by divisional forest officer (DFO) Lower Dir, Shabbir Khan, while talking to reporters on Sunday. He said the monsoon season, like spring, was ideal for planting trees and saplings. He urged the public to plant trees in their homes, fields, and hills to contribute towards a greener and healthier Pakistan.

The DFO said the department had planted more than 7,000 fruit saplings, including guava, loquat, orange, apricot, and plum, and had also established nurseries of pine, walnut, and acacia at five locations in the district.

Mr Khan vowed that no one would be allowed to cut trees illegally, adding that action against the timber mafia had been intensified.

Published in Dawn, August 11th, 2025