SWAT: Pakhtun leaders from across the country declared here on Friday that they could no more be deceived in the name of religion and they would not tolerate terrorists and terrorism under any garb on their land.
They were speaking during a huge protest at Barikot Tehsil organized by Swat Olasi Pasoon and Swat Qaumi Jirga, to reaffirm resolve to durable peace in Malakand division and the entire Pakhtun belt.
A large number of people including leaders of various political parties from across the country participated in the protest.
Prominent among the speakers were PTM head Manzoor Pashteen, MPA Ahmad Kundi, Jamaat-i-Islami Senator Mushtaq Ahmed Khan, Khushal Kakar, QWP provincial president Sikandar Sherpao, ANP Salim Khan Advocate, Ayoub Khan Asharey, Attaullah Jan, Idrees Bacha, PkMAP Mukhtiar Yousafzai, Aftab Khan, Dr Khalid Mahmood, Sher Shah Khan, Adalat Khan, Engineer Sharafat Ali and Syed Muhammad Ali Shah.
The speakers said that the uprising for peace and prosperity by the residents of Swat gave spirit and courage to all the Pakhtuns across the world. “History will remember the Swat uprising in golden words, which not only shook the state institutions but also gave a spirit to all the oppressed Pakhtuns,” said Khushal Kakar, who came from Balochistan to address the protest. He said it was high time for all Pakhtuns to stand united for their rights.
The speakers said that Pakhtuns sent a message to the entire world that they were peace loving nation and not terrorists, adding that they would never allow anyone to sabotage the hard-earn peace in the entire Pakhtun Belt in general and scenic Swat vally in particular. They also declared that from now on, nobody would be allowed to use religion as tool for imposition of their narrative in the society, adding that Pakhtuns would deal all such powers and elements with sternly who ever tried to divide the society or create law and order under any garb.
