SWAT: Swat Qaumi Jirga on Thursday rejected any military operation in the region, warning that the people of Swat would no longer tolerate actions taken on the pretext of counter-terrorism.

Instead, the jirga called upon the government to empower local police with full authority to act against terrorists and ensure lasting peace in the valley.

Addressing a “Meet the Press” session at Swat Press Club, prominent members of the jirga including Mukhtiar Khan Yousafzai, Alhaj Zahid Khan, Khurshid Kakaji, Abdul Qahar Khan, Irfan Chattan, Akhtar Ali Khanji, Sherzada Bahadur Khan, Mohammad Ali Khan, Dr Khalid Mahmood, Iqbal Hussain Balay, Ahmad Shah, and others, highlighted the sacrifices rendered by the people of Swat in the fight against terrorism and expressed their unwillingness to suffer further losses.

They acknowledged reports of presence of terrorists in various parts of Swat and stressed the need for immediate action. However, they insisted that such operations should be conducted by police, not military. Quoting regional police officer (RPO) of Malakand, they asserted that Swat police were fully equipped and capable of confronting any threat.

Asks govt to empower police for taking action against terrorists

“Any attempt to launch another military operation would face strong public resistance,” they said. They said that it was collective responsibility of all to maintain peace. They assured police of full support to restore Swat’s image as a haven of peace.

The jirga also demanded arrest and prosecution of those responsible for the recent killing of Fatehullah, calling for justice to prevent similar incidents in future.

GOVERNOR: Governor Faisal Karim Kundi on Thursday inaugurated an emergency rescue centre at Pakistan Red Crescent (Hilal-i-Ahmar) office in Kanju Township.

He handed over two ambulance vehicles and five local boats to PRCS officials and distributed first aid kits among volunteers during his visit to Swat.

Commending performance of PRCS, the governor lauded the role of local volunteers and acknowledged their dedication in serving people.

Talking to journalists, he accused provincial government of mismanagement and inefficiency. He criticised PTI for destabilising the province, saying: “We handed over a peaceful KP in 2013 to it, but PTI turned it into chaos.”

The governor reiterated his preference for peace through dialogue but noted that if all means were exhausted, military action remained the last resort. He demanded an account of Rs700 billion received under the NFC Award, questioning lack of transparency in its expenditure.

The governor also condemned the continued neglect of merged districts, highlighting the unfulfilled promise of Rs100 billion annually, even after eight years. Taking a direct jab at the PTI leadership, he said that Imran Khan should stop hiding behind rallies and should face courts.

“PTI now operates through multiple factions and Chief Minister Ali Amin Gandapur is using state helicopters for his own family,” he alleged.

The governor held the provincial government responsible for the tragic Swat River incident on June 27, in which 16 lives were lost. He condemned suspension of rescue worker Asmat Ali, who had played a key role in the operation.

Published in Dawn, August 8th, 2025