SWAT: Hundreds of residents gathered at Matta Chowk here on Friday to demand immediate recovery of a young girl who has been missing for nearly two years, urging law enforcement agencies to take effective action in the case.

The protest was organised by the Swat Olasi Pasoon and attended by civil society members, human rights activists, local elders, youth representatives, and residents from various parts of the district.

Among those who addressed the gathering were Ajab Khan, Fawad Khan, Bahadar Sher Afghan, Mukhtiar Yousafzai, Khurshaid Kakaji, Shah Faisal Advocate, and several other community leaders.

The speakers expressed serious concern over the prolonged disappearance of Reshma, a young girl from Durushkhela, Matta, who was allegedly kidnapped around two years ago and has yet to be recovered despite repeated appeals by her family.

Victim’s mother says police failed to trace her despite passage of two years

Addressing the protesters, the girl’s mother said that despite the passage of two years, police had failed to trace and recover her daughter. She alleged that the family had spent approximately Rs200,000 on travel, fuel, and other expenses during their efforts to pursue the case.

She further claimed that instead of providing support, some officials subjected her to inappropriate remarks and discouraging responses. The grieving mother alleged that the victim’s family had not received the cooperation they expected from the authorities and appealed to the Chief Justice of Pakistan to intervene and help secure the recovery of her daughter.

Shah Faisal Advocate, counsel for the victim’s family, also stated that the police conducted a weak and inadequate investigation into the case, which, he alleged, favoured the party against whom the mother of the missing girl had registered an FIR.

Other speakers questioned the police performance in handling the case and demanded an impartial inquiry into the conduct of officials allegedly involved. They maintained that it was the responsibility of law enforcement agencies to recover the missing girl and provide justice to the affected family, particularly as the girl’s mother is a widow.

The protesters called upon the Khyber Pakhtunkhwa Inspector General of Police to ensure the immediate recovery of the missing girl and take action against any officials found negligent in the investigation.

They warned that if tangible progress is not made, residents of Swat, along with supporters from other regions, would launch a larger protest movement.

When contacted, District Police Officer Umar Khan said that a proper inquiry would be conducted into the matter, and if any police official was found negligent or involved in misconduct, strict action would be taken against them.

Published in Dawn, June 13th, 2026