Govt assures Swat jirga citizens’ lives, properties to be protected

MINGORA: A grand peace jirga in Saidu Sharif on Tuesday unanimously rejected any potential military operation in the region.

The jirga convened at the Commissioner’s Office was presided over by Khyber Pakhtunkhwa Minister for Livestock, Fisheries and Cooperatives, Fazal Hakim Khan Yousafzai, and attended by political, social, and administrative leaders.

Participants included MNA Saleemur Rehman, MPAs Akhtar Khan, Ali Shah, Sultan Room, Muhammad Naeem, Hameedur Rahman, City Mayor Shahid Ali Khan, Chairman of Kabal Tehsil Saeed Khan, Chairman of Barikot Kashif Ali, Commissioner of Malakand Division Abid Wazir, DIG Malakand Sher Akbar Khan, DPO Swat Muhammad Umar, and Swat Deputy Commissioner Saleem Jan Marwat.

Leaders from various political parties, who attended the jirga, included PPP district president Saleem Khan, ANP general secretary Ikram Khan, JUI-F district ameer Maulana Syed Qamar, QWP leader Sherzada Bahadur Khan, PML-N local chapter president Qawi Khan, and Jamaat-e-Islami district ameer Hameedul Haq. Besides, journalists, lawyers, bar representatives, business leaders, and members of civil society were also present.

Provincial minister Fazal Hakim Yousafzai stated unequivocally that the peace of Swat was non-negotiable. “No one will be allowed to cast an evil eye on Swat,” he declared, adding he and his fellow representatives would stand with the people regardless of official designations.

He stressed that no decision about the region’s security would be accepted without the consent of its people, in accordance with the clear directives of Chief Minister Ali Amin Gandapur.

The jirga participants pledged full cooperation with the police, vowed to stay vigilant about suspicious activities, and agreed to establish effective community coordination mechanisms.

Addressing the local administration, Fazal Hakim said: “You are all accountable to the people of Swat, and no decision on security will be accepted without their trust and consultation.”

Malakand DIG Sher Akbar Khan reassured the gathering that over 7,000 security personnel were deployed in Swat to protect lives and properties of the people, adding law enforcement agencies were fully prepared to respond to any situation.