SWAT – Pakistan Army on Monday formally handed over administrative controlof Swat to the civil government after restoring peace and the government’swrit in the militancy-hit Khyber Pakhtunkhwa region.
In 2007, after the Tehreek-i-Taliban Pakistan had taken over Swat, armedforced were called in to prise the valley out of their possession a processthat more than a decade later is now officially deemed complete.
“After almost eleven years we have made history with the handing-over ofadministrative powers to the civil administration,” KP Chief MinisterMehmood Khan said at a gathering also attended by Peshawar Corps CommanderLt Gen Nazir Ahmed Butt, the General Officer Commanding (GOC) Malakand,ministers, MPs and other army officers.
The chief minister regretted that militants had destroyed the beautifuldistrict by bombing schools, educational institutions, imposing variousbans on women and killing innocent people.
He further said that the army, with the support of police, localadministration and the people, has succeeded in uprooting militancy fromSwat and restored peace.
Read Top Stories
GOC Malakand Khali Saeed also addressed the ceremony, claiming that Swat isnow “completely peaceful”.
He said that the establishment of an army cantonment will help thedistrict’s progress and development, and assured the forces his fullcooperation and help in maintaining the law and order situation in Swat.
The transfer of administrative control in Swat to civil administrationcomes months after a similar transition was made in the Lower and Upper Dirdistricts.
