Mingora under army

With militancy resurfacing in parts of Swat, the provincial government has decided to hand over Mingora, the headquarters of the scenic valley, to army. The followers of Maulvi Fazlullah, the activist of Tehrik Taliban Pakistan (TTP), have almost set up a parallel administration – with courts, qazis and vigilante groups – in Mingora, Matta and Malam Jabba areas. Trouble has also been brewing up in Charbagh, Kabal and some other strongholds of the extremists. For 22nd consecutive day, the Kanju-Kabal Road continues to be closed to traffic. With fingers on triggers, the security men stand vigil atop Mingora police station. Two divisions of army have already been deployed in Swat while contingents of the third started arriving into Mingora on the night between Friday and Saturday. NWFP Governor Owais Ahmad Ghani dropped hints the other day that in order to ensure permanent peace, army would have to be to be deployed in the area over an extended period of time and the only feasible way to do so was to set up a cantonment in Mingora.

With educational institutions going up in flames one after the other and prominent figures from the ruling party being targeted along with their families and homes, the administration cannot possibly stay eternally indifferent like a silent spectator. Due to fear, anxiety and a sense of insecurity, the people of Swat have restricted their movement. Recently the militants reportedly gunned down the brother of Provincial Minister Wajid Ali Khan but for his own security the minister was advised not to attend the funeral. Fear reigns supreme in the valley and has changed the contours of the age-old rituals. Frightened parents have moved out of the area to educate their children. Those staying behind have just stopped sending their sons and daughters to schools. No government worth its salt can look the other way when its tax-payers are forcibly being slid back into the stone age.