SWAT: Civil society and political parties on Monday started raising questions after alarming rise in wildfire incidence in forest and mountain across Swat region.
The Pakhtunkhwa Milli Awami Party (PkMAP) took to the streets to record their protest against the rising incidence of wildfire in the area, demanding the government set up a high-level commission to ascertain reason behind the unabated fire incidents.
Addressing the protest rally at Matta Chowk, PkMAP local leaders including Umar Ali Yousafzai and Sher Bahadur Khan said that wildfires incidents have been taking place continuously but reason for these incidents could not be ascertained yet.
They said that several people were claimed to have been arrested for arson but the public did not know what action was taken against them.
FRESH FIRE INCIDENTS
On the other hand، the incidents of fresh fires were reported in the mountains and forests of Babuzai Tehsil, KhwazaKhela Tehsil, Barikot Tehsil and Kabal Tehsil here on Monday.
Rescue 1122 spokesperson Miss. Shafiqa Gul claimed to have controlled over 71 out of 73 blazes in various parts of Swat district since June 1st.
However, the fire in the mountains of Marghazar valley could not be brought under control on the fourth day which extended to Amlook Dara and Ghalegay area of Barikot Tehsil.
According to the forest officials, wildfire broke out in the hills of Shamelai in Babuzai Tehsil, Muhammad Baig and Shalhand of Kabal Tehsil, Manyar of Barikot Tehsil, Toha in Charbagh tehsil and Chinkolai of Khwazakhela Tehsil of Swat District on Monday, adding that an operation is underway to control the fire.
Local residents of Marghazar valley Fazal Amin and former Nazim Amjad Ali said that the fire almost burnt all the vegetation on the hill to ashes and was reaching the residential areas.
They blamed the government and other departments for not taking part in fire-fighting operation, adding that locals are carrying out efforts to extinguish the fire and prevent its spread to save residential areas.
