Hoti demands judicial probe

MARDAN: Former federal minister Nawabzada Khawaja Muhammad Khan Hoti on Monday called for a judicial inquiry into the Swat tragedy where several people were washed away by the flooded Swat River in Mingora town.

Speaking to reporters, he said women and children stranded in the flooded Swat River were pleading for help and requesting helicopters. “This is not just negligence, it’s a governance disaster,” he said.

He lamented that the rescue personnel lacked the equipment necessary to save lives. “The PTI has ruled KP for 12 years, yet the government has failed to equip its emergency services,” he said, adding that the current administration was more focused on the release of “prisoner number 408” than serving the public.

Kh Hoti said the Swat tragedy had not only claimed lives but also damaged the province’s image.He questioned the role of the National Disaster Management, asking what purpose the institution served if it could not respond in emergencies.

Kh Hoti accused the provincial government of allowing unchecked construction along the Swat River and failing to remove encroachments over the past decade.The former minister demanded strict action against those who issued NOCs to hotels built in hazardous areas and called for the immediate arrest of officials whose negligence led to the tragedy. He urged the people of Swat to protest against their elected representatives, warning that such incidents could destroy the region’s vital tourism industry.