A girl Tells the Story of her Destroyed Paradise!

A Letter to Maulana Fazlullah

swatstory — Mon, 09 Feb 2009 18:59:50 +0000

For the sake of Allah, give me my life back!

Dear Maulana Fazlullah,

Assalam-o-Alaikum! Hope this will find you in the best of your health and spirits. I am a daughter of Swat and today I want to share some thoughts with you and i hope that you will consider it in the larger instrest of Islam and Pakistan and people of the area.

I have no objection to your demand for Shariah as we ourselves fed up with the rotten and corrupt political, judicial and administrative system of the country. We are also yearning for a just society based on justice, equality, fair-play and moderation.Who have no objection to your demand. And if you remember we supported you when you launched your movement.

You also said in your speeches that your movement is against the landlords who exploited the locals and keep some of them in bonded labour. Thats alright. What i fail to understand is that these are the poor poeple who are the victims of your movement. The rich ones have already shifted to other cities and have admitted their children to better schools.

Your militants destroyed the schools where poor and middle class were getting education. This is true that these schools were used as bunkers by the military and the military establishment is equally responsible for that. You say that the bridges were destroyed by the military and the military says it was done by the militants.

Your militant campaign rendered 50,000 people jobless and hundreds killed. Islam says when you nurder one person its like you murdered the whole humanity. Please guide me what version of religion people should follow; yours or the one preached by the Holy Prophet (PBUH)?

Dear Maulana Sahib! there is still time that you reveiw your decision of fighting till Shariah is enforced in Swat. Islam is the religion of peace and it can not be enforced on the dead bodies of innocent people who are also Muslims. The whole world is observing us and they cursing us for our approach to religion. Why you dont work on minds rather then forcing people to surrender to your point of view. Love is the power, belive me your way of handling this issue will bring nothing but disaster.

DOnt you have a heart that can feel for the weeping children and helpless mothers? In the past our leaders had the power but they abused it and used it for their personal interest, today you are at the helm of affairs in Swat and you have the power to put an end to the ongoing voilence. Let us find a solution through dialogue and negotiations. Let us have a debate, a honest debate, a jirga from where we can go ahead and bring some relief to the people.

But i know now the secret hand has succeded in giving a tarnished image to Swat, unfortunately today all the people in swat are considered as militants. Now our homes are already destroyed, our schools are turned to ashes. Our people living like refugees in Pubjab and Karachi… Now how it will be possible to reverse the cycle of time. We have lost every thing we had, our peace, our society, our traditions and our future!

Swat will not be the same again! Aaah!

Tarikh ki awraq mai ye zulam bhi dekhi hai, Lamhon ne khta ke thi sadyon ne saza payi.

Please do whatever you can do for the next generations of Swat if you can.We have enough of destruction please give us an opportunity to breath a sigh of relief.

May Allah bless us all!

Your sister in Islam,

Gul Mina

United States is not interested thats why……

swatstory — Sun, 08 Feb 2009 19:10:30 +0000

Since last night there is uninteruptted firing in the surounding areas of Mingora. Shano is here… she is terrified and overburdened by the grief of leaving her home (Tomorrow she is leaving for Abbotabad). There was exchange of fire in Saidu Sharif and Balogram, i dont know what was the matter… Now it has become our life, we have forgotten our songs and all musicality in our lives has been muffled by gunshots. However one thing is unbearable when you see people with tears in their eyes and uploading thier luggage and leaving for another city either in Pubjab or in Mansehra.

Where is our home...............?

Due to shelling by Pak Army in Engarao Dherai, Qambar, Ali Grama and Takhta Band more four villages are vacated by the local residents, today we have three families from these village, Khan Baba has made arrangements for some of them in the Hujra. The women are saying that there was a time when we donated our jewellery to Maulana Falullah as we thought he will implement the system of justice and peace. “I am cursing myself that why i was deceived by this Mulla” one woman told me with feellings of regrests flashing through her eyes.

Yes Mulla is ignorant but he is still powerful; he has a magic that is called religion. That instigate you to cut the throat of your brother so that you enter into paradise, i dont believe in any such paradise for which you make this world a hell, and for which you destroy the peace of this world,

Shano is very clerver and updates on current affairs, sometimes i feel so jeolous about her, she knows everything from United States to Africa and and Asia. I asked her Shano why the Army is killing our people and Taliban are destroying our homes. SHe thought for sometime and then said “Look Gul Mina, your military needs a place where it can play of its game of hide and seek with the Taliban/ and swat is a place that does not share border with Afghanistan, The United States is concerned with Fata and does not care for Swat, US interferes in Fata to safegaurd interests in Afghanistan. Therefore Pak Army is happy that it has opened a new nursury of militants in swat that is safe and away from the US eye. Here it will train people and then use them in Kashmir or Afghanistan to protect its startegic depth….. Strategic disaster for the people of Swat!

We dont know about our sin but still time is taking revenge from us. SOmetimes nature play starange games.

Yau Kal ba bal watan ke teer kam……

swatstory — Sat, 07 Feb 2009 19:30:32 +0000

Shano is adamant that now she will not wait anymore and will shift to her uncle house in Abbotabad. Her uncle family migrated to Abbotabad two months back, when one of her cousins was killed in Kanju by some militants. She has lost hope of the re-opening of schools. “I dont think that i will be able to continue my studies in Swat. In such condition i cant’ materialize my dream of becoming a doctor”.

War of terror for Swati People

On Monday she is leaving, and i am losing another good friend. Time is erecting mountains between us! I am so upset, but she has promised that she would be in contact with me via email and Phone. Her father has already sent her two brothers to Karachi. Now her parents and one younger sister have left to live in Mingora.

Thousands girls like Shano are uncertain about their future. They see their dreams shattered when Maulana Shah Dauran, a lieutenant of Maulana Fazlullah announced ban on girls education a few weeks ego. Swat is not a tribal area, its a settled district, a prime tourist destination and centre of learning since Buddhist times. The former Wali (Ruler) of Swat established hundreds of educational institutions here. Women literacy rate is much higher as compared to other districts of Pakistan.

The ban on girls education was part of heinous conspiracy against the Pashtuns of Swat. They want to keep is illiterate so that we can produce more and more Jihadis. They want to push us to the alleys of darkness and ignorance.

But i have decided that whatever i will encourage girls in my neighbourhood to come to my house, and i will make arrangement for their education. I have some old books which i can share with the girls. I will teach them and Inshallah Allah will help me as I am practicing the saying of the Holy Prophet (PBUH). Similiarly i will follow the footsteps of Bacha Khan Baba who encouraged girls education and established schools for Pashtun chidlren in different parts of NWFP.

Oooooooh Shano, yes Shano is leaving on Monday. Tonight shano is staying with me. Today we had some time together but the whole day we discussed Swat, Taliban and Army. Oh my God we never thought of such days!

Shano shared a nice Tappa with me. She said..

Yau Kal ba bal watan ke teer kam, Chi sta da husan dauran ter shi ra ba shama

“I will spend this year in a foreign land because you are so proud of your beauty, after one year when you lose your charm i will return again…

Her reference was to Maulana Fazlullah, she meant that when Maulana Fazlullah and his militants will either be killed or arrested she will return back to Swat. I fear that her dream may not become true soon (or in 1 year) as tonight Maulana Fazlullah delivered another sermon on his FM radio. Fazlullah was so proud of his actions in swat. He called on his fighters to intensify attacks on people who are opposed to Taliban. However Pakistani TV channles said that the military has killed 15 militanst in Swat. What a joke! The father of the militants was delivering speeches on his Radio channel and issuing new editcs, while the security forces claimed that 15 militanst had been killed.

The truth is that 15 more Swatis murdered! Who cares?

Three more innocents Killed!

swatstory — Sat, 07 Feb 2009 13:31:27 +0000

Sameer came and told me that the dead bodies of three people have been recovered from Ali Grama village of Swat district. No one knows who killed these three innocents including one father and one son? Media says unindentified militants killed them, can the government explain who are these unidentified militants? I have also complain against media that they dont expose the real faces of the criminals. Now this has become a routine in Swat that every day a number of dead bodies have been recovered from different places. According to my estimate 1400 innocnets have so far been killed. What will be the feelings of their family members every one with a heart can understand?

Will my these sisters also raise their voice for children and women in Swat?

I just wonder when this spat of voilence will end? When the President, Prime Minister and Chief of the Army staff will awake from their slumber? When they will shun their indifferent attitude towards the gross human rights voilation in swat? I have just questions, i know no one can find an answer for my cries, all of them have a dead consience!

Are US dollars more important than the lives of innocent people?

swatstory — Sat, 07 Feb 2009 11:37:40 +0000

[polldaddy poll=1348698]

Is consience of the world dead?

swatstory — Sat, 07 Feb 2009 09:07:44 +0000

Today I feel lost. My hearts aches when I see helpless children and women who are displaced by shelling on civilian population by the security forces. Sameer (my youger brother) told me that thousands of people are flooding Mingora city from Odigram, Qambar, Kabal, Manglawar, Bhandai, Khwazakhela and Balogram villages of the district.

This is past. Now no smiles on girls' faces in swat

The military has closed the main route connecting Mingora with charbagh and Khwazakhela. I don’t know about the fate of thousands of those people who are living in Behrain and Kalam and mainly dependent on this route for their survival. But the thousands of those who are taking refuge in Mingora city are in worse condition they never thought of.

Women are terrified and children are suffering from different physical and psychological diseases. Some NGOs have established camps for them in government schools but these camps lack facilities. Moreover the threat of Taliban attacks have deprive people of peace of mind who are forced to live in these camps.

I wonder where are the champions of Pashtuns’ rights. Where are the elected members of parliament and provincial Assembly? And where is Asfandyar Wali Khan and Mehmod Khan Achakzai who always exploited Pashtuns in the name of struggling for their rights? Sadly these so-called Pashtun leaders even don’t issue a press statement against the atrocities of the Military and the Militants in Swat valley.

I think there is no reason for the provincial government to stay in Power. When its not able to provide relief to the people and restore peace to my valley, it should resign without any further delay.

Khan Baba (My father) says that the ministers and Chief minister are busy in collecting money, they are involved in corruption, they just want to stay in power to earn money on our blood!

Qazi Hussain Ahamad of Jamat-e-Islami can hold protest demonstration for Children in Gaza Palestine but the children in Swat valley has no right on him or his party to raise voice for them. The so-called Islamist party! The right hand of military establishment!

Maulana Fazlurrahman, the fat boy of Pakistan establishment is happy with the induction of his two minister in PM Gilani cabinet. He is just concerned with money, land, food and power. I wonder why people vote them to parliament?

Where is the United Nations Children Fund? Where are the INGOs with catchy slogans… Save the children!!! Children in my valley have no right to the billions of funds destributed by these INGOs for the welfare of children in other countries. We are caught in the cross fire between the military and the militants, we are hopless and hapless, no one is coming!

Is the consience of the world dead?

Swat from Heaven to Hell

swatstory — Fri, 06 Feb 2009 18:05:02 +0000

I still remember the old good days when every summer many of our relatives would visit our home close to Mingora town. They would remain here for few days to visit different places in the valley and enjoy the pleasant weather. Bazars in Mingora (Main town of the valley) would bust with tourists both from inside the country and abroad. There were stores full of Swati handicrafts, dry fruits, garments, gems, sweets and grains in Mingora. Recently a number of big Shopping malls were also constructed in Makan Bagh Mingora. My Papa says that Swat was a place that provided employment to 40,000 people only in one field-Tourism Industry and there are more than 1400 hotels. But its the story of the past… no too distant past.

People living Mingora. Thanks to the so-called military operation.

It was in October/November when the then government of President parvez Mushraff deployed 25ooo security forces in Swat valley to fight the militants of Maulana Fazlullah. The people felt relieved over the deployment of the forces as they thought the Army would liberate them from the raising evil influence of so-called Taliban (Butchers!). However despite the lapse of 14/15 months they are not able to establish the much touted writ of the government even on the main town of Mingora.My younger brother Sameer Khan says that they are restricted to their posts. They even can’t dare to come out a single step of their compounds. On the pretext of killing Taliban they are shelling civilian population and destroying schools, public buildings and homes. They murder people and then issue the statements that so and so taliban were killed in the operation.

Tears roll down on my cheeks when I see my aunt, uncle and their families and other people who are collecting their utensils and migrating to other parts of the country. Yesternight i heard on Geo TV that about 0.6 million people were displaced by the conflict over since October 2007.

Now the people want the army to leave the area and go back to their barracks. ENough is enough! They are not interested to fight Taliban they just want to destroy our homes and kill our people. We dont trust them any more. My uncle who is a govt official, say that Taliban were brought and encouraged by some unknown govt officials (Who are thes unknow! Any one could tell me) in Swat. The military Generals wanted a soft space (Like Swat) where they could play their games to deceive the international community and kill civilians for few dollars.

I will write more tomorrow as my Mama is feeling ill and terrified due to the morning suicide bomb explosion on a police station in Mingora. 115 People injured in this attack. Uncertainty prevails!!!!

Hello world!

swatstory — Fri, 06 Feb 2009 11:34:22 +0000

Welcome to swatstory.wordpress.com. Swat Valley, is an idyllic valley in North Western Pakistan. The valley was once called as the ‘Switzerland of the East”, for its fascinating natural sceneries, gushing rivers, Lush green landscape, Peach Orchards, Snow-capped Mountains and penoramic rural sky-screen. A few years back a half-baked cleric known as Maulana Fazlullah launched an FM channel that encouraged religious extremism, bigotry and terrorism in the valley. Soon he recruited illiterate and unemployed youth, trained and armed them and started havoc with people lives and properties in the name of implementing his extremist version of Islamic system of justice.

Swat- a paradise lost!

Since October 2007 more than 40,000 Pak security forces are engaged in the so-called fighting against terrorism in the valley. Hundreds of girls schools, hospitals, bridges and hotels have been destroyed in this conflict and 1500 civilians dead. 40,000 well-equipped and trained security forces are not able to rein in a handful of militants! The valley that was once a piece of paradise is now in flames. About 0.7 Million people were displaced by the conflict. The military establishment still wants to continue with its gory drama to earn dollars from the US administrtaion. I myself a student left my education incompleted and now living with my relatives in Mingora city.

By this blog i want to share a true picture of the reality on the ground, i just…. want to share my pain with you. Plz plz support me and stand beside me to protect thousands of innocent children, women and elderly people from the bullets of both militants and military. I will share daily updates from the region with you here on this blog. Long live peace and humanity!