Senators on Wednesday alleged that the government response to the volatile law and order situation in Swat was not appropriate and urged it to wake up from deep slumber before the life becomes extinct.
Tourism Minister Maulana Atta-ur-Rehman conceded that contrary to the government claims the situation in Swat has worsen and the government had no writ in the areas as Taliban are becoming stronger despite intensified military operation.
The Senate Standing Committee on Culture, Sports and Tourism met here under the chairmanship of Zafar Iqbal Chaudhry to discuss the vanishing tourism industry in scenic valley.
The committee was informed that the tourism infrastructure in the valley was destroyed owing to insurgency and militancy in the valley where the militants destroyed all the resorts including Malam Jabbaa.
There was a feeling among the members that serious efforts were needed to flush out militants who could threaten the whole country if not stopped. The tourism ministry briefed the standing committee that once scenic valley of Swat today presents a sight of total ruins and people are fleeing for their lives. It was the tourism industry that gone badly to worst during the last decade from 1998 to 2008 and the law and order situation is alarming in the most beautiful tourist valley.
The meeting was informed that local Taliban have destroyed the Malam Jabba resort causing a loss of Rs 100 million. PTDC acting chairman Usman Shafi told the standing committee that Taliban have also ransacked 11 Corps guest house that was located just opposite to the Pakistan Tourism Development Corporation (PTDC).
Senator Abdul Rahim Mandokhel of Pakhtunkhwa Mili Awami Party was critical of the military operation, as it has failed to improve the situation and uproot militants from the area. He questioned that how explosions have been taking place during the curfew.Senator Enver Beg of the Pakistan People's Party (PPP) asked the tourism minister to explain the prevailing law and order situation in the valley in wake of recent statement by the government that the control of Swat would be taken back from the militants.
The Tourism Minister apprised the meeting that the situation was so grave in the Swat valley from last few days that three to four dead bodies were found hanging on main the streets of Swat cut from the throats with a message on a paper that they have been the agents of the government.
In response to a call from the committee members that the Minister should take them to the valley to raise the moral of the local people, the minister said he was ready to go with them provided they taken the responsibility of the security. "You can not realize how grave the situation is in Swat by sitting in Islamabad" he said it is burning and people are fleeing in search of safe place.
"Once, you cross the Malakand you would be in an area where the government does not have any writ," he said. Senator Tahir Hussain Mashhadi criticised the government, saying it had no intention to revive the tourist industry and law and order situation in Swat. The government, he maintained, was unable to take back its lost property from militants in the valley.
PML-Q lady senator Nilofar Bakhtiar was also of the view that unfortunately tourism industry had completely destroyed but the government was paying no attention to it. Some members of the committee feared that the Taliban could come to Islamabad if the security forces could not control them in the Swat valley.
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