MINGORA, Dec 9: The District Council of Swat has been criticized for its failure to stop the shifting of the offices of board of intermediate and secondary education from Saidu Sharif to Chakdara Dir lower during Ramazan.

Despite repeated denials by the District Nazim, the people are still claiming that he consented the shifting of the board.

With the passage of time the issue is gaining momentum and the people are poised to stage protest demonstrations with a planned programme, which can become an issue of law and order.

The board had been serving the people of Swat, Shangla, Buner, Dir (lower), Dir (upper), Malakand Agency and Bajuar Agency for the last one decade. A piece of land has also been purchased for its own building, which could not be constructed so far for unknown reasons.

Reports of embezzlement in land deal are also circulating, but the governor or any other competent authority is yet to order a probe into the matter. Till now the board is functioning in a rented building here.

None of the authorities have come out with any explanation about the logic of shifting of the board, but generally it is being argued that it has been shifted to a government-owned building in Chakdara, where more space was available to accommodate all the sections properly.

It is said that Chakdara is a place which is considered to be the center of the entire Malakand division. It is also argued that on the one hand the people used to come to the board from the far- flung areas of upper Dir, on the other hand the position of those coming from Shangla, Buner and Bajuar agency was also not very different.

The government has also established the Malakand University at Chakdara. But the people of Swat are of the opinion that a reasonable place for the board is Saidu Sharif.

They have been staging protest demonstrations and criticizing the NWFP governor for taking the decision of shifting of the board.

Some are alleging that Dr Mehbobur Rehman had already given his consent in this regard. The people in Mingora and Matta are very critical of the decision.

The District Nazim himself has now become a part of the protestors. The Nazim has decided that he along with other Nazimeen would render their resignations collectively if the board was not restored.

Besides, the people of Dir, specially the Nazimeen have raised voice for provision of some facilities like passport office, supply of natural gas, establishment of air port, etc.