SWAT – Pakistan Army on Monday handed administrative powers of the Swat region to the civilian authorities, putting an end to a decade-long military operation in the area aimed at weeding out Taliban militants from the region.
In a ceremony held at the Saidu Sharif airport, Brigadier Naseem Anwar handed over the civilian powers to Commissioner of Malakand Division, Zaheer-ul-Islam, saying the security is now the responsibility of Saidu Sharif police range officer.
Addressing the gathering, General Office Commanding Major-General Khalid Saeed said the people of Swat stood shoulder to shoulder with the military to defeat militants adding that after the restoration of peace, the army took an active part in rehabilitation works.
Lt Gen But commented that peace had returned to Swat, and the law enforcement agencies and civil administration will be responsible for security in the region from now on.
The corps commander lavished praise on the armed forces for vigilance in the face of threats, claiming that militant forces were still trying to launch attacks, hence the border was being ‘fortified with fencing’.
On the occasion, KP Chief Minister Mehmood Khan said after almost eleven years they have made history with the handing-over of administrative powers to the civil administration.
The chief minister regretted that militants had destroyed the serene district by bombing schools, educational institutions, imposing various bans on women and killing innocent citizens.
‘Army, with the support of police, local administration and the people, has succeeded in uprooting militancy from Swat and restored peace,’ Khan highlighted.
The ceremony was also attended by Khyber Pakhtunkhwa (KP) Chief Minister Mehmood Khan, Peshawar Corps Commander Lt-Gen Nazeer Butt.
In 2007, after the Tehreek-e-Taliban Pakistan had taken over Swat, armed forced were called in to maintain law and order situation. The transfer of administrative control in Swat comes months after a similar transition was made in the Lower and Upper Dir districts.
CM Whisked Away
At the end of the ceremony, security personnel had to escort the chief minister Mehmood Khan to his vehicle as a large number of attendants tried to meet him personally.
The manner in which the CM was whisked away – a footage of which is available – gave birth to rumours that he may have fallen ill or that he was prevented from speaking by his security escorts.
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However, Mehmood clarified that he had been flanked by security officials to safeguard him from the oncoming crowd and there was no health concern.
‘I am completely healthy and busy dealing with the routine issues of my office. Security officials had escorted me to my car due to the crowd,’ he said in a statement.
