- Police register 186 murder cases; 11 honor killings and nine suicides reported during outgoing year
- Terror incidents decline but targeted killings of political figures persist
- Saidu Group of Teaching Hospital granted MTI status, Central Hospital Saidu Sharif upgraded to DHQ
SWAT: A total of 230 people, including 169 men and 61 women, lost their lives in various incidents during 2025 in Swat district, while 11 individuals were killed in the name of honour and nine committed suicide, police officials confirmed.
According to Swat Police spokesperson Nasir Iqbal, 186 murder cases were registered across all police stations in the district during the year. A total of 362 suspects, including 334 men and 28 women, were nominated in these cases, while 552 suspects are still at large, with efforts underway to arrest them.
Police reported a noticeable decline in terrorism-related incidents during 2025; however, several cases of targeted killings were recorded. On May 11, ANP leader and Village Council Chairman Fatah Ullah Khan was killed along with an associate in the Ningolai area of Kabal Tehsil. On September 9, ANP leader and former Nazim Jafar Khan was targeted in his native Kalaklay area of Kabal Tehsil. On October 14, Levies constable Abdul Kabeer was martyred while performing polio duty in Arkot, Tehsil Matta. Later, on November 12, ANP leader Mumtaz Ali Khan survived a bomb attack on his vehicle in the Shakardara area of Tehsil Matta.
District Police Officer (DPO) Swat Muhammad Omar Khan stated that to maintain law and order, the police carried out organized operations against anti-social elements throughout the year, resulting in the arrest of 542 wanted criminals involved in serious cases.
He said operations against drug dealers and smugglers led to the arrest of 2,055 individuals, from whom 355 kilograms of hashish, 12 kilograms of heroin, 8 kilograms of ice, and 2,134 litres of liquor were recovered. He added that under the National Action Plan, 1,321 suspects were arrested for possession of illegal weapons, with recoveries including 44 Kalashnikovs, 186 rifles, 65 shotguns, 1,533 pistols, 33,044 rounds of ammunition, 65 daggers, six hand grenades, 10 mortars, and 19 kilograms of explosives.
Police also made multiple arrests in theft-related cases, recovering 104 motorcycles, 20 cars, and 20 other vehicles from suspects. Additionally, Rs170,967,270 were recovered from individuals involved in theft.
To ensure public safety, 31,538 individuals were subjected to preventive actions, while operations were conducted against 11,896 vagrants, he said. During the year, 362 suspects involved in murder cases were sent to jail, while 1,290 individuals were arrested under the Renters Act, 108 under the Sensitive Places Act, and 88 for aerial firing.
DPO Muhammad Omar Khan said Swat Police were utilizing all available resources to maintain law and order, apprehend criminals, and ensure the safety of citizens, with continuous operations underway to curb crime. He urged the public to immediately report any suspicious or dangerous activity to facilitate timely action.
Meanwhile, the Saidu Group of Teaching Hospital has been granted the status of a Medical Teaching Institution (MTI), while Central Hospital Saidu Sharif has been upgraded to a District Headquarters (DHQ) Hospital in Swat.
The decision was taken during a meeting chaired by Provincial Health Minister Khaliqur Rehman, which was attended by the Secretary of Health, other officials, and members of the provincial assembly from Swat. It was decided that both hospitals would continue to function fully.
The Provincial Health Minister stated that the Saidu Group of Teaching Hospitals has a capacity of 1,040 beds, while the combined capacity of Central Hospital and Sheikh Zaid Hospital stands at 340 beds, exceeding the 300-bed requirement for a DHQ hospital.
He said the MTI status would ensure improved monitoring and system enhancement through a Health Task Force, and shortages of doctors, nurses, and paramedical staff would be addressed on a priority basis. He added that all hospitals would be provided with the required resources and facilities.
Provincial Housing Minister Dr Amjad Ali noted that three major hospitals in the province had already been converted into MTIs, and upgrading Central Hospital to DHQ status would provide additional medical facilities to the public.
Former MPA Fazal Hakim and Chairman DDAC Akhtar Khan welcomed the decision, saying it fulfilled commitments made to the public and would not be compromised. The public and hospital staff also expressed satisfaction, terming the move a significant step towards improving healthcare services and enhancing medical facilities in the region.
