A series of protests by locals in Swat’s Charbagh and Shangla Alpuri continues on Friday, as residents demand authorities clamp down on elements ruining the area’s peace.
Swat Qaumi Jirga organised the protest, in which elders, youth, and children carried placards inscribed with slogans calling for restoration of peace in Charbagh tehsil.
Last week, protesters in Khwazakhela tehsil of Swat warned that if the authorities failed to act, they might take up arms to combat terrorists.
Locals protested today for the eighth time since the terror activities resurfaced in August. Two children were injured and the driver of a school van was killed in Charbagh on Tuesday.
As a result of the incident, thousands of people took to the streets in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa to protest.
After negotiations with the administration, protesters demanded that the attackers be arrested and threatened a march to Islamabad.
Amir Muqam join by ANP district head Ayoub Asharey, PkMAP leader Mukhtiar Yousafzai, Charbagh elder Naveed Iqbal, Attaullah Jan and other peace activists at the protest.
According to the speakers, the demonstrations will continue until the last terrorist has eliminate.
The PML-N will not compromise on its duty to maintain peace in Swat, Muqam stated.
In addition, we stand with the people of Swat in their fight for peace against all forms of terrorism.
As one speaker said, Swatis have “woken up” and understand right from wrong and good from bad.
During his speech, Mukhtiar Yousafzai said the locals have decided.They won’t breathe freely until Swat is completely free from terrorism.
Organized terrorism
Swat’s days of suffering under organize terrorism are long gone. The threat of violence can no longer be tolerated, Yousafzai declared.
Participants carried flags and placards demanding peace from the government with their children.
For peace’s sake, Swat’s people have made unprecedented sacrifices and displace.
Advocate Attaullah Jan spoke in his address, saying that we are also citizens of this country, and that we have equal rights.
Swat Qaumi Jirga leaders have promised to organize more protests until durable and complete peace in Swat is restored.
Protest at Shangla
In the Shangla area of Alpuri, protests were in a similar fashion. As residents chanted and condemned recent terrorism in parts of Malakand division, they demanded durable peace in the region.
“Shangla Peace Movement” organized the protest, which demanded peace and the eradication of terrorism from all political parties.
Mutawakil Khan, former ANP candidate for PK-23, said “we cannot tolerate any more bloodshed of Pakhtuns.”.
Defending the attack on the Swat school van, he referred to the murder of a father and son from Shangla’s Chakesar.
Rashad Khan, a former MPA, said they wanted the government to safeguard the lives and property of Malakand’s people.
Pakistanis should feel safe and protected as it is their constitutional right to feel safe and protected, he said.
He also stressed that the region had no space for terrorists now, and he admonished them not to make fools of the people this time around.
According to him, the state should protect the lives of the public by eliminating insurgents. When he asked how they had arrived in Pakistan from Afghanistan, he was a bit confused.
According to Waqar Ahmad Khan, chairman of the Alpuri tehsil of the PTI, the region had once seen three million migrants leave.
Murderers and saboteurs
“Education and seminars are very important to me, but I do not like murderers and saboteurs.”.
One of the organizers, Noorullah Khan, said the rally was meant to send a clear message to terrorists that their land is their home.
“Please be assured that anyone who attempts to kill our children will be dealt with severely.”.
He urged the government to take strict action against the return of terrorism ahead of protests in Islamabad and Lahore.
Afterwards, the protesters dispersed and left the area.
