SWAT — An All Parties Conference (APC) convened by the Jamiat Ulema-e-Islam-Fazl (JUI-F) Swat chapter has vehemently rejected the imposition of taxes in the former Federal and Provincial Administered Tribal Areas (FATA/PATA), emphasizing that the region’s special status must be constitutionally protected.
In a joint communiqué issued after the session, political and religious leaders lamented the government’s failure to fulfill promises made at the time of the region’s merger. These included commitments to development, job creation, and judicial access, none of which have materialized in practice.
The APC criticized the Irrigation Department for including hereditary and transferred lands in the River Swat demarcation and called for an impartial, transparent re-survey. Similar objections were raised against the Forest Department for unjust demarcation and occupation of private lands.
Participants also denounced the inclusion of agricultural land in the Swat Expressway project, branding it as an attack on local farmers. They demanded an alternative route and fair compensation for the affected.
Highlighting injustices in the ongoing anti-encroachment operations, the conference called for an immediate halt and full compensation to those affected. Leaders stressed the urgent need for safety infrastructure such as a protective wall along the Swat River and demanded expedited construction of both the Swat Expressway and Kalam Road.
The APC also expressed concern over increasing lawlessness, terrorism, and electricity load shedding in the region, demanding sustainable peace and the rule of law. It strongly opposed the Mines & Mineral Bill, terming it a ploy to seize local resources. Delegates asserted that the first right to mineral wealth belongs to the local populace, warning of strong resistance to any external monopoly.
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Furthermore, the conference highlighted the rising drug menace in Swat, particularly the use of methamphetamine (ice), and urged an immediate and absolute ban.
An implementation committee, comprising district leaders of participating political parties, has been formed. This body will engage with civil society, religious groups, and political stakeholders to initiate a collective movement against unjust policies and protect the region’s rights.
