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Editorial situation No
operation yet meeting Men on mission
Displacement
per force
People may not be talking about it too much but the violence in Swat -- at least of the current variety -- coincides with Operation Lal Masjid. A series of suicide bombings targeting security forces followed the operation, bringing into sharp focus the doings of a certain Maulana Fazlullah. In fact he was one of the few people who publicly reacted against the operation and announced to wage jihad against the government of Pakistan through his FM Radio channel. This was the beginning of July. But it was not the first time the world heard about Maulana Fazlullah. He came into the limelight after he resisted the government-initiated and UN sponsored polio vaccination campaign by saying it was a Western conspiracy to keep Muslims impotent. This too was propagated through his radio and actually hindered the campaign considerably. Alongside there were attacks on CD shops, barbers who shaved off beards, threats to girl's education and all in the name of Shariah - Fazlullah being the son-in-law of Maulana Sufi Muhammad of Tehreek-e-Nifaze-Shariat-e-Muhammadi (TNSM) fame and hence perfectly placed to give the Shariah call. This went on for a couple of years; the movement gradually gaining momentum as the mullah picked more following. But this was before Lal Masjid. Despite the fact that troops in the shape of many brigades moved towards Swat, the focus of media attention remained Waziristan, and for obvious reasons. Swat's turn has come now. The officials may not like to call it an operation but that's what it really is. People are dying and are being displaced. The analysis coming out of the war-like zone is: why was the situation allowed to get this worse in the first place. Some blame it on the MMA government in the province. The official version if and when it comes is confused. It's unclear whether it still wants to exploit the jirga option or it's going to lodge a fight to the finish. It has even blamed the foreign elements for stoking the situation, though nobody seems concerned. We have tried to bring together various aspects of the current turmoil. But we leave it to our readers to draw their own conclusions. The writ of the government was challenged many years ago but it chose to keep mum. Here are the consequences... By Mushtaq Yusufzai For the first time in the
history of the Swat valley, the gruesome public beheadings of It was for the first time in the history of the country's major tourist centre that private properties, audio/video shops and barbers' shops were blown up in the district by hidden forces. Threats were issued to women's educational institutions and nursing schools, asking the girls to stay back indoors and pushing the administration to close the institutions. The government -- in the name of restoring the writ -- launched an operation through police and paramilitary security forces. Though, this led to another episode of violence in the valley, killing more than 150 people over the past one week. The militants, besides killing scores of security forces in one suicidal blast and numerous clashes, also beheaded 10 security forces personnel, policemen and government officials. The next day, a private truck carrying the paramilitary Frontier Constabulary (FC) personnel was blown up in Mingora, the headquarters of the Swat district. Government officials
insisted that it was a suicide attack carried out by two people who This led to a never-ending series of gun battle between the well-armed militants led by Maulana Fazlullah and security forces in four subdivisions - Matta, Kabal, Charbagh and Khwaza Khela -- of the district. Official sources revealed that more than 150 militants were dead and several others injured in the ongoing violent drive carried out by the paramilitary Frontier Corps and Frontier Constabulary personnel only. Pakistan army soldiers have so far been kept away from the operation. Gunship choppers have been provided to the paramilitary forces which, for the first time, in Swat's history targeted different locations in Matta, Charbagh, Khwaza Khela and Kabal areas, killing dozens of militants and destroying their roadside posts. Popular belief has it that the senior government officials based in the valley have shut their eyes to the activities of the unwanted elements. The government functionaries, whose job was to take timely measures for discouraging the activities of extremist elements, were well aware of what was going on in their jurisdiction. One question commonly asked these days is as to why did the government not take notice of a chain of FM radio channels which Maulana Fazlullah and his aides had launched three years ago to propagate their own brand of Islam and to provoke people to take up arms. Maulana Fazlullah was quick to gain popularity among the masses after the launch of his FM channel in 2004. And, everytime he spoke, he was all rhetoric against the US as well as the government. He also advocated the stance of the Taliban in Afghanistan and urged the people to come out in support of the enforcement of the Islamic law. After his brother was killed in air strikes by the CIA-operated pilotless predator on a madrasa in Bajaur Agency, the Maulana ordered the construction of a huge complex on the bank of the Swat river. In response to his call on his FM radio, the people started donating generously to his cause. Eventually, an amount worth Rs 3.8 million was collected within 24 hours which rose to Rs 35 million. It was his FM radio channel that earned Maulana Fazlullah the name of 'Radio Mulla'. Even now, Maulana Fazlullah and his men are operating around 30 FM radio channels, which are widely listened to in the valley. This chain of radios helped the Maulana -- son in law of Maulana Sufi Muhammad who had founded Tehreek e Nifaz e Shariah Muhammadi (TNSM) in Dir in 1989 -- to create a vast majority of followers. It is worth mentioning here that Sufi Muhammad had given a decree in which he regarded military training as compulsory for every Muslim. After this decree, hundreds of TNSM workers were reportedly sent in for military training in Afghanistan and other parts of the country. There were also reports that Maulana Masood Azhar -- after his release from prison in India under a deal -- came to Swat and formed a militant organisation, Jaish-i-Muhammad, which later imparted jihadi training to the TNSM activists. Interestingly, Maulana Sufi Muhammad has expelled both Maulana Fazlullah and Maulana Faqir Muhammad, militant commander in Bajaur, from TNSM on charges of turning his peaceful movement into a violent one. However, NWFP Home Secretary Badshah Gul Wazir argued that the FM radio channels were operating in Swat because the Pemra Ordinance was not applicable in the region. "Efforts were underway to extend the ordinance to Swat and definitely all these FM radio channels run by the mullahs for propagation purposes would be seized," a top government official told TNS. Muhammad Afzal Khan Lala, a noted nationalist leader who survived an attempt on his life a few weeks ago, in which his security guards were killed, was not hesitant to accuse the state secret agencies of turning this beautiful valley into a living hell for them. Talking to TNS from his home in Darushkhela village near Matta - a stronghold of militants - the elderly Khan Lala, who has served as federal and provincial minister in the past, alleged that the state machinery was directly involved in the making of Maulana Fazlullah and other militant elements in order that they could serve the vested interests of the military establishment. "How can we expect the government to take action against Fazlullah and his guests, when a district coordination officer (Swat) and senior government officials used to regularly offer prayers behind the Maulana and portrayed themselves as loyal to him," remarked the ANP leader. He further said that the people of Swat had, for years, been loyal to the government and there was no example in the history of the region that they had ever challenged the writ of the government. "For the first time, the writ of the government was challenged in Swat and it continued for years, but the government itself turned a deaf ear to it," he told TNS. "After 9/11, Musharraf may have changed his direction but his secret agencies have been continuously involved in their previous practices of creating and supporting extremist and militant elements." He asked as to where did the militants get hold of such sophisticated weapons when there is no arms factory in Swat? The district administration, he continued, endorsed every warning of the militants that encouraged them to create a parallel rule. Similarly, senior security officials as well as people close to the militants disclose that Maulana Fazlullah and his aides lost control over his "guest fighters" who had gathered there from Mirali in North Waziristan, Darra Adam Khel, Bajaur and other tribal areas to fight alongside them against the security forces. They said that it was these guest fighters who indulged in the ruthless beheading of the security personnel. "Fazlullah has become a spiritual figure now. A lot of foreign elements, including Arabs, Uzbeks and Chechens moved out from Mirali, Darra Adam Khel and Bajaur, and reached there. "They are in full control of the region and are directly involved in carrying out actions against our security forces," a senior security official told TNS. Photos
by Muhammad
Sajjad
A compilation of official versions even as senior officers refuse to talk to the media By Javed Aziz Khan Despite having deployed thousands of troops of Frontier Corps, Frontier Constabulary and Frontier Police to counter the rebellion of Maulana Fazlullah, top government functionaries continue to insist that no operation has been launched in the troubled valley of Swat -- yet. According to them, whatever forces have been deployed in the region are meant only to restore the writ of the State in areas where it was eroded. Maintaining law and order
became a tough challenge in Swat precisely after the men of Posting in the region was no more an attraction for the senior administrative officers of the Police Service of Pakistan (PSP) and the District Management Group (DMG), because they would be the prime target of the miscreants. Reportedly, the situation forced many an officer to approach the headquarters and have their postings canceled. A few months back, an attack on the Senior Superintendent of Police (SSP) Mazharul Haq left him badly injured and four of his cops dead. A large number of junior officers have also either been killed or injured in different incidents of bomb blasts and suicide attacks so far. A large number of important government dignitaries also moved bag and baggage to Peshawar and Islamabad as the situation worsened in the region. Today, the situation is such that the senior officers -- who are heading their respective departments and forces in the Frontier -- are not willing to give any comments in the media over the Swat issue, fearing that their fate would be akin to that of Abdul Raziq Bugti, a spokesman of the Balochistan government who was shot dead by unidentified terrorists in Quetta a few months after the killing of Nawab Akbar Bugti. Apparently, NWFP Home Secretary Badshah Gul Wazir is also getting apprehensive because after committing to an interview with TNS, he refused to make himself available at the very last minute. His reason being some "pressing engagements". "Will it be a recorded interview?" an obviously perturbed Badshah Gul had asked, earlier when he was approached for the interview. He did not say a word even when assured that it would not be audio-taped. It is interesting to note that Badshah Gul Wazir and the Inspector General of Police (IGP) Mohammad Sharif Virk faced the media only at two press briefings. There, too, the IGP preferred to say a only few words. TNS tried to contact him in his office for an official version on the Swat issue, but he didn't take any calls. The NWFP caretaker Home Minister Shahzada Gastasip Khan is even more cautious, as he is hardly seen attending meetings or press conferences despite being the head of the law enforcing agencies in the interim set-up. However, as per the statistics provided by the Home Secretary during his first interaction with the media over the issue, most of the 43 people who were killed and 106 others who were injured in 43 different terrorist attacks in Swat since January were law enforcing personnel. Another 20 people, including 17 FC personnel, were killed and 31 others injured on the day when the forces took positions in the valley. Many have put the death toll at 30 that includes 26 law enforcers. "Maulana Fazlullah has a fighting strength of 4600, with an added 400-member Shaheen Commando Force that patrol the streets of Swat with guns placed on their vehicles. The Maulana's stronghold remains the 59 villages of Matta sub division," informs Wazir. Swat has a population of over 1.2 million. The area first witnessed a paramilitary operation in the year 1994-95 when the Frontier Corps, led by Major General Fazal Ghafoor, took over the religious schools of the-then militant leader Maulana Sufi Mohammad, Maulana Fazlullah's father-in-law. Later, Sufi was taken into prison for having led an 'army' of 10,000 men to Afghanistan to fight alongside the Taliban against the US-led coalition forces and the Northern Alliance. He has been in the Dera Ismail Khan jail for the past six years now. "We have no plan to involve Sufi Mohammad. As far as the process of negotiations is concerned, we will look into it once Fazlullah surrenders to the authorities," the Home Secretary was quoted as saying in his second press brief on the Swat operation. The government deployed the Army in Swat on the request of the former chief minister Akram Khan Durrani in July this year. However, the army is yet to start patrolling the streets along with the police and the Frontier Corps following a strong protest by the public. According to the IGP, Mohammad Sharif Virk, 1,500 policemen were already serving in Swat. The government deployed around 3,000 personnel of the Frontier Corps, 32 platoons of the Frontier Constabulary and nine platoons of the Frontier Reserve Police. "The police had vacated some of the smaller posts earlier in the remote areas. These would be re-occupied and the writ of the State established through action by the reinforced paramilitary forces," Virk stresses. Caretaker Chief Minister Shamsul Mulk -- who alone has been convening the jirgas of the elders of Swat and the meetings of the concerned security officials -- suspects foreign backing to Maulana Fazlullah. He seems concerned to a great extent over what is happening across the Frontier. He has also ordered the forces to move in Swat. It remains to be seen whether his strategy proves right or the next political government will have to jump in and settle the issue.
meeting Fazlullah denies links with al-Qaeda or Afghan Taliban, and argues that his only link to them is religious By Rahimullah Yusufzai Maulana Fazlullah was
receiving his followers and speaking to them in Pashto in the It was a doting group of people who laughed whenever the young Maulana made fun of the 'corrupt and inefficient' police or lambasted the government for its inability to provide security to the Swatis. He drew applause when he explained how he was forced to send his Shaheen Commando Force to fight crime, patrol villages and towns and bring killers, criminals and car-snatchers to book in the absence of the police and other law-enforcing agencies. They listened in rapt attention as he narrated the achievements of his force and claimed that the crime graph had come down since the cops gave up their duty after coming under attacks by unknown people and the government abdicated its responsibility to provide protection to the people. The crowd wanted him to speak forever but the Maulana had to stop every time a new group of people arrived and came forward to embrace him. He gave personal attention to each new arrival and enquired after his and his family's welfare. Security was lax in the mosque, though some armed men stood guard outside and others sat in groups in the courtyard and further afar near the slow-moving river. A shop outside sold the audio-cassettes of the Maulana's speeches and Taliban tapes and did good business due to the rush of customers. A madrasa was also under construction nearby and the huge complex looked splendid from Fizzaghat, the riverside resort just outside Mingora on the main road leading to famous tourist destinations such as Madyan, Bahrain, Kalam, Bisham, Miandam and Malam Jabba. According to the Maulana's aide Sirajuddin, more than Rs 10 million had been donated by the people towards the construction of the mosque and madrasa complex. Neatly dressed in shalwar-kameez and wearing a smart jacket, Fazlullah stood on his feet in the mosque and declined to sit down so that the crowd could see him from afar and hear him speak without any loudspeaker. His black, flowing beard testified that he was still young, only 32 as his men told us. He wore a black turban just like the Taliban. There was a slight stammer in his speech but he overcame the disability by attempting to speak loud and clear. Talking to TNS later in a side room which served as his office and his group's headquarter, Fazlullah denied links with al-Qaeda or Afghan Taliban and argued that his only link to them was religious. "We are all Muslims and, thus, brothers in faith. I consider Osama bin Laden a mujahid but I have never met him or the Taliban leader Mullah Omar," he stressed. "For the past two years, I also haven't met my father-in-law and Tanzim e Nifaz e Shariat-e-Mohammadi founder Maulana Sufi Mohammad. I spent 17 months with him in the Dera Ismail Khan jail and served him devoutly. But then I was freed and I haven't been able to travel outside Swat because the government would arrest me if I stepped out of my village." Fazlullah rejected the government claims that he had set up a parallel administration by arresting people and awarding them punishment. "This is not true. We did arrest some killers, drunkards and other criminals and would have delivered them over to the police had the cops been doing their duty instead of locking themselves inside police stations for fear of an attack. The murderers are still in our custody and the seven young students who were caught drinking were released after they sought forgiveness from Allah. We gave them Rs 100 each so that they could pay for the transport and reach their homes," he said. Admitting that some of the criminals in his custody were publicly lashed in Mamdheray, Fazlullah maintained that they were lightly whipped to warn others because these men had disguised themselves as Taliban and were robbing people and snatching vehicles. "They were bringing a bad name to my organisation. People were complaining that my men were involved in criminal activities. I believe the lashing would serve as a deterrent to others." Fazlullah also denied having a hand in the attempted destruction of the Buddha rock carving at Jehanabad in Manglawar village and said that non-Muslims and their religious and archaeological sites should be protected by an Islamic state. He said that he wanted Shariah not only in Swat and the rest of the Malakand division but in the whole of Pakistan. He conceded that he had thrice crossed over to Afghanistan in order to fight alongside the Taliban. The last time he did so was to accompany Maulana Sufi Mohammad and his 10,000 followers, in Novemeber 2001, to fight the US-led coalition forces and the Northern Alliance.
Maulana Fazlullah, whose real name is Fazal Hayat, is the public face of the radical pro-Taliban movement in Swat. He is widely known and his reputation as a maverick cleric with unconventional views has now travelled all over Pakistan and even beyond. However, not much is known
about his aides and the other militants leading the armed The 32-year old Maulana Fazlullah is assisted by the two shuras, or councils. One is the Ulema Shura with several Swati clerics who advise him about the religious policies of the movement. Another shura comprises some 10 notables and, apparently, military commanders. His deputy is Maulana Shah Dowran, who belongs to Qambar village in Swat and runs his own FM Radio channel from his madrasa over there. It may be added that there are 33 FM radio channels in Swat, including the most famous one run by Maulana Fazlullah. The well-built, fair-complexioned Shah Dowran grabbed headlines when he announced unilateral ceasefire after claiming that he had been contacted by the caretaker minister in NWFP, Mohammad Ali Shah alias Bacha Lala -- who also belongs to the Qambar village -- PML-Q Provincial President and Federal Minister Amir Muqam. Another deputy to Fazlullah is Maulana Mohammad Ali Shah Niddar, who looks after the FM Radio and broadcasts religious programmes and speeches. 'Niddar', as the Maulana explained, means a fearless person. On Fazlullah's FM Radio recently, he fearlessly declared that suicide bombings weren't un-Islamic, and challenged anyone to a debate on the issue. He questioned as to why the government hailed trainee pilot Captain Rashid Minhas of Pakistan Air Force as a hero and awarded him Nishan-i-Haider even though he accomplished a suicide mission to prevent hijacking of an aircraft by his Bengali, or East Pakistani, instructor. Niddar is from Bara Banday, sited near Fazlullah's Mamdheray village. Fazlullah in his zeal for Islamisation has renamed Mamdheray as Iman Dheray, Bara Banday as Islam Banday and the adjacent Kuza Banday as Shariat Banday. Sirajuddin is probably the most important official after Fazlullah in the group. He is a cousin of Fazlullah as their fathers were brothers. He also belongs to Mamdheray and is based there despite the fact that the village has been bombed by gunship helicopters and is located just across river Swat from Mingora. Sirajuddin has emerged as the principal spokesman of Fazlullah, who has gone into hiding, and is accessible to the media. Sirajuddin, who also looks after the group's finances and has been overseeing the construction of the huge Omar bin Khitab mosque-cum-madrasa complex in Mamdheray, had studied in Afghanistan and was once a leader of the leftist Democratic Students Federation (DSF). Now he is a changed and bearded man, championing the cause of Islam after having fought on the side of the Taliban in Afghanistan. Muslim Khan is a member of Fazlullah's 'Shura'. He is one of the elders in the group and was part of the team sent by Fazlullah to negotiate with the government officials and Swat jirga members prior to the recent fighting in the area. The group seems to have a number of military commanders but two have gained importance and become known. One is Dr Farooq Ahmad, who originally belonged to the banned jehadi group, Jaish-i-Mohammad, and goes by different names such as commander Talha and Khalid. He claimed to have fought for six years on the side of the Taliban in Afghanistan where he met Mulla Mohammad Omar and Osama bin Laden. He isn't a medical doctor but became known as Dr Farooq after completing a course in medicine and treating injured and sick Taliban fighter. The tall, well-built Dr Farooq also claimed that he taught Fazlullah how to fire the Kalashnikov rifle. The other military commander active in Swat is Akbar Hussain. In a recent interview with the BBC, he claimed to be commanding 500 to 600 trained fighters. If need be, he said his group could call upon the Taliban fighters from tribal areas and Afghanistan for help. He said that the suicide bombers were ready to launch 'fidayee' attacks on security forces involved in attacks in Swat. Denying the presence of foreign fighters in Swat, he claimed that all those putting up resistance were local men. The Tehrik e Islami Taliban was a mysterious and shadowy group operating in Swat. A CD released by the group showed a young man explaining its objectives in his Pashto-accented Urdu. His face covered, he was seated in front of a huge black banner inscribed with the 'Kalima'. The man claimed responsibility for most of the suicide bombings taking place in the country and threatened with more of such attacks until President General Pervez Musharraf changed his pro-US policies. He said that the group's Fidayeen Brigade had 313 suicide bombers but only 15 had launched attacks until now and 298 were waiting for their turn to strike. He claimed that another 147 'fidayeen' had also enlisted to take part in suicide missions. --
Rahimullah Yusufzai
The current situation has forced the potential visitor out, bringing the tourism industry in Swat to a complete halt and leaving thousands of inhabitants without their only source of income Replete with natural beauty, the valley of Swat has always been hailed as one of the country's prime tourist resorts that was also home to the traditionally hospitable natives. Its culturally rich history, exclusive handicrafts and delicacies have intrigued the visitors, from time immemorial. Unfortunately, today, the valley is a picture of anarchy and unrest. The last few years have
seen a harrowingly growing phenomenon of militants that are out Once considered a haven for tourists from all over the country as well as the globe, Swat has long depended on the revenue generated through the tourism industry. A rough estimate puts the dependence of more than 60 per cent of the region's inhabitants upon the industry which -- sadly enough -- has come to a complete halt in the wake of the recent clashes between the militants and the security forces, leaving thousands of innocent people without their only source of income. Mohammad Ali, Tehsil Nazim Poran, who runs a hotel in Kalam valley, says that the subsistence of more than 15 per cent of the locals rested with the business of hotels alone. "All these people were hired on daily wages, but now they are out of work." There are more than 1200 hotels and resorts in the valley that were functional in serving their guests. However, this year alone, they suffered a huge financial setback as the tourists begin to avoid Swat like plague. Ibrahim Khan, an instructor at Paithum, the first ever tourism institute in the country, tells TNS that the income generated in the area from trade and industry -- especially the cottage industries such as wool spinning, stone carving, wood carving, ornaments, embroidery and handicrafts -- was dependent on the tourists visiting the place. "The produce from these industries would find buyers in the tourists visiting the place. And, if they failed to show up, it meant no business," he adds. Jannat Khan, who hails from the Behrain valley (in Swat) and owns a four-wheeler, says that he was forced to migrate to the lower parts of the Frontier province recently, as he could not make enough money during the tourist season to see him through the entire winter. Jannat is having to work as a daily wager, because he could not bring his vehicle with him beyond the boundaries of the Malakand region for lack of proper documents. Khurshid Khan, a Peshawar-based academic, believes that the 'religious class' in the region -- before the establishment of the Swat State, during the period of statehood and after it was over -- was a broad-minded group that was culturally well absorbed in the society. "They were never rigid in accepting music, games, western dress, TV, internet and the like," writes Khurshid in an online article of his. He adds that at one point the valley recorded the highest literacy rate for women, compared to its neighbouring districts. Khurshid Khan is of the view that the people of Swat are feeling helpless in the current situation and are actually disappointed with the role played by the government. They have no option left but to seek the help of the world community and the different human rights organisations for stepping up pressure on Pakistan to save Swat from becoming another Waziristan. "The people of the region have time and again reminded their MPAs and MNAs to do something about it. To no avail. At last, the district administration signed a treaty with the clergy to save its face. "Till the early nineties, no one from among the common public or the clergy ever raised any objections regarding the women's education in the valley. The religio-political parties would cast a few thousand votes in the different constituencies of the valley before the 1990s, but they were never able to win an assembly seat on their own," he contends.
Thousands of people have moved to safer places in the wake of the recent operation Fierce supporters of Maulana Fazlullah in Swat chant "Maulavi saib ishara kava, Biya ye tamasha kava". The quoted pushto watchword or slogan could be translated like this, "Maulvi, give us a green signal and then watch what we do!" That it was no mere slogan was proved the day Maulana Fazalullah escaped arrest as his supporters forced the police to flee by pelting stones on them. Not without reason have the
events of past months and years made news. A few months His jailed father-in-law Maulvi Sufi Mohammad led thousands of innocent young men into Jihad against the Americans in Afghanistan. Mothers, sisters, wives and children of these people still await their loved ones to come home. People of the area donated generously for Fazlullah who collected millions of rupees in a day. Why are people are supporting Taliban? Saeed, a resident of Sangota replied, "Only five per cent people of Swat may be supporting Taliban; majority of the people are afraid to oppose them due to fear of beheading or other punishments." Saeed shifted his family to Mingora before the start of operation and has comeback to see if everything is intact and safe in his house. Listening to Radio Aap ki Duniya for latest information regarding security situation, Gulfaridoon of Sangota said, "BBC is not clear enough and now this American channel is working clearly here." "I can hear some disturbing bombing sounds from far-away," said Gulfaridoon with a concern in his voice. Speaking from Mingora on telephone, Amina who evacuated recently said, "It was a horrible day. People were afraid and trying to evacuate but roads were closed down. We left home on Sunday. It was difficult but we had to as our men would not allow us to stay there". Fazal Ghaffar of Minglawar recalled. "People opted to walk through Dangaram. Women and children have had to walk for more than five hours for safety. Many people did not have transportation means. I made more than two dozen trips in my private vehicle to bring people up to the check post." In the wake of the present operation, security forces took control of Mingora, Fizzaghat, Manglawar, Char Bagh, Khawaza Khel, Kabal, Kanju and Matta which are considered strongholds of Taliban. People of these areas were advised to vacate immediately so majority of them shifted to safer places like Mardan, Charsadda, Nowshera and even Peshawar. An unfortunate poor family of eleven members has shifted from Fizzaghat to Peshawar. Head of the family Pervaiz (45) is paralysed. "We don't have relatives to stay with in this hour of distress. So we decided to erect tents in fields." Distressed family has erected cloth tents which can not provide them safety against weather. Five children, not quite aware of the huge change in their lives, were playing in the fields. "We had to pay Rs 2000 fare to the truck driver. Now I am quite perplexed as to how we will earn and eat," said Pervaiz in a hollow voice. Sitting in one corner of the tent, Zulekha was quite bitter about the situation in Swat. "We don't know anything about Taliban. We have been living in Swat for centuries. It is our ancestral place." "We were told by the army to leave the place. Now we are not sure when we would be able to go back home again. But since I work as street vendor, I hope I can continue my work here," said Abid, brother of Pervaiz.
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soldiers have been witnessed, and military gunship helicopters and
artilleries seen blitzing the suspected hideouts of what the government
regarded as miscreants. The people in the turbulent valley of Swat as well as
the lower districts of the Frontier province are openly accusing the
clergy-led MMA government of showing criminal negligence and maintaining an
eerie silence over the reign of terror unleashed by the militants in the
region.
were riding a white Suzuki car that hit the FC truck, killing 34 people
including 30 soldiers and four civilians. The bodies of most victims were
badly charred and could not be identified. Thirty five persons -- with 25
from law-enforcement agencies -- sustained injuries in the same incident.
Maulana Fazlullah (alias Radio Mullah) emerged as the supreme power in the
valley, establishing a parallel administrative system. Thereafter, bomb
blasts, attacks on girls' schools, CD shops and law enforcing personnel
became the order of the day. The latter were even forced to vacate their
posts and adopt a lower profile while serving in the Swat District.
under-construction Omar bin Khitab Mosque near the banks of river Swat when
we reached his village Mamdheray. Young and old men had come from all over
Swat in buses, pick-up trucks and other vehicles to greet him on the occasion
of Eidul Fitr.
campaign for enforcement of Shariah in Swat district. Then there are certain
militant groups that are only nominally under the command of the Maulana and
seem to have a different agenda.
to paralyse the functions of the security forces, confining the latter to
their camps through a series of bomb blasts and suicide attacks. More
recently, the government has sent in paramilitary and regular troops to check
the militants' activities, especially after the district administration
reportedly started endorsing their warnings.
back, militants blew up the 7th century historic statue of Buddha in
Jehanabad area of Swat. Barber shops and music shops have consistently been
bombed. Men were forced to grow beard, women advised not to send their
daughters to schools and send their sons to religious seminaries. The
government run polio vaccination drive was halted for reasons best know to
Fazlullah. And all the propaganda was run through an FM channel and continued
unabated by Radio Mulla of Swat for the last 3 years.