With their houses destroyed during the Swat operation and the promised monitory compensation denied, disappointed owners staged a protest with a sit-in outside the DCO office on Thursday. Residents of various localities of Tehsil Kabal gathered at Nishat Chowk and marched to the DCO office in form of a procession observing a sit-in protest. “It has been four years since our houses were destroyed during the military operation in Swat. Despite the government’s promises, no compensation is yet to come,” speakers said. “The PARSA and District Administration are using delaying tactics to ward us off,” they complained.
They blamed elected members for embezzling millions out of compensatory funds that were allocated for the benefit of Swat operation affectees. “Leaving us helpless and in the vortex of maelstrom, elected members used the embezzled money to buy themselves property in posh areas of the country,” speakers added. Protestors warned that if their demands were no met on priority basis, they will be left with no option but to resort to severer protest and will block the Swat-Peshawar GT road.
SKI GALA: A 7-day ski gala is set to commence on March 3 in tourist resort Malam Jabba. Malam Jabba is located about 9,000 feet above sea level.
Like previous years, a large number of skiers from all over the country are expected to participate in the event. The gala will continue till March 10. One day each has been allocated to women and children. Special security arrangements have also been made. Ski Federation Provincial President Matiullah Khan said that thousands of ski enthusiasts streamed to Malam Jabba last year and hundreds of thousands are expected to participate this year too.
