By Fahad Bhatti
I spent 6 days under (Shoot at Sight) curfew in Mingora, Swat [Pakistan]. During my stay there I investigated the situation first hand as I did not believe the stories posted by several newspapers and television channels. My interaction with people of Swat at refugee camps in Mardan led me to investigate the real story, without any involvement from government sources, Taliban or Biased Media.
As of now the people of Swat are going back to their homes, but will they be able to heal the wounds created by the largest Internal Displacement of our times?
And I would also like to pay tribute to people of Mardan, the city which welcomed people of Swat with open hearts and homes. People of Mardan shared everything with their brothers in need even though they always had a rocky relationship. One of the refugees told me that they used to hate people of Mardan – “and look at them; they did everything for us and now I am ashamed of my past hatred towards them”, he said.
I would also like to pay tribute to the Pakistan Army. Without them Swat would not have been liberated. I am not against implementing Islamic Law but I also believe a lot of Muslims have to study Islam in its true context. I don’t believe in the Islam of the Taliban or that of the so called moderate Muslims.
Human tragedy and rehabilitation should be our main concern. Scars left on children of Swat will never heal. Some of the children had to see bodies of human beings eaten by dogs. Children used to see people being hung at the market square with their heads cut off. Behind every smiling child I met, there was sadness and fear. Some of them wouldn’t talk to me because of my long hair and beard; they thought I was Taliban. We have come to times where people have started to hate Muslims. Negative situations have been created by uneducated and the so-called educated and modern civil society of Pakistan.
We should stop blaming Western countries and other neighboring countries. We need to take responsibility for where we have brought ourselves today.
People of Pakistan should show the same level of commitment it did with the earthquake victims in Balochistan and Kashmir. The void must be filled by Pakistani citizens — especially those who live a comfortable life in huge homes and criticize everything from politicians to the army, during their social gatherings. If the high society is embarrassed by the goings on in Pakistan, then its time to get up and change it. Talk less and do more!!!
Last but not the least, some of the local NGO’s have used the misery of others, to earn millions through donations. It is our duty to be careful in donating to organizations – we must do a thorough background check before we give money.
Special Thanks to:
Murad Ali Bacha and his family ( My host in Mingora)
Inamullah (My guide and Helper)
Shezad Kaka – Ary Channel
And all my friends who helped me on this trip. I’ll be thanking you personally also.
Location: Mingora, Saidu Sharif ( Swat Valley ) and Mardan IDP Camps
Images: By Fahd Bhatti
[...] This post was mentioned on Twitter by Swat Crisis and farihar, farihar. farihar said: Read & view, a first hand account, on the plight of people in SWAT [Pakistan], by Fahad Bhatti: http://bit.ly/1yLOHN [...]
great work. much needed insight about what is really happening there.lets hope our government actually does something about the situation.keep it up.
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