SWAT: The Swat Qaumi Jirga, while demanding the establishment of lasting peace and the restoration of the constitutional special status of Malakand Division ( PATA), has made it clear that if the government does not accept the demands, they will bring the people to the streets and start a resistance movement.
This decision was taken in the working committee’s meeting of the Swat Qaumi Jirga held in Mingora Yesterday.
The working committee members Abdul Qahar Khan, Abdul Khaliq Khan, Sher Shah Khan, Mukhtiar Yousafzai, Zahid Khan, Khawaja Khan, Muhammad Ali Khan, Salahuddin Khan, Abdul Jabbar Khan, Khurshid Kakaji and Akhtar Ali Khan and other members participated in the meeting.
“The implementation of proposed taxes in Malakand division, worsening law and order situation in Swat, alarming situation of extortion and death threats from people and non-construction of Kalam road, change in motorway map and the cancellation of approved schemes in Swat were discussed in the Meeting.”
In the declaration issued after the meeting, it has been said that the process of organizing the Jirga up to the Tehsil level will be completed by June 30 and the people will be mobilized for their rights.
“It was decided in the meeting that a resistance movement will be called very soon against the sustainable establishment of peace and the imposition of taxes and the people will be forced to take to the streets and accept the demands of the rulers.”
The Jirga demanded that the special status of the Malakand Division be restored and the promises made at the time of the accession of Swat to Pakistan and the promises made at the time of integration, under which Swat was promised exemption from all kinds of taxes.
In the meeting, immediate construction of Kalam Road and change in the map of Swat Motorway was also demanded as per the demand of the people.
The Jirga demanded release of funds to the approved projects for Swat during the previous provincial government and a strong reaction to it, demanding that these projects were not individual projects but public projects. Showing tolerance to the political opposition, the provincial government should respect the 100% mandate of the people of Swat and provide funds for all development projects.
“It was demanded that the health facilities should be increased and the district hospital should be renovated.
It was demanded in the meeting that if 650 MW electricity is being given to Kashmir at three rupees per unit and flour is cheap, then we also demand that more than 500 MW electricity is being included in the national grade in Malakand division. Therefore, cheap electricity and cheap electricity should be provided here as well.
In the meeting, it was decided that a joint meeting of the business community and social workers will be called to run an effective movement and struggle will be done from a common platform.
