Thousands of residents in Swat’s scenic Kabal area gathered in protest against the army’s plans to construct a cantonment in Swat. The demonstrators criticized the move as a violation of their rights, accusing authorities of “seizing ancestral lands without local consent.”
Rahmat Ali Khan, a former member of the Khyber Pakhtunkhwa Assembly, told the protesters, “Years ago, terrorism was intentionally fueled in Swat to justify the military’s presence. Now, the army is using that pretext to take over our lands for constructing cantonments.”
He alleged that in 2017, the army acquired thousands of acres for a cantonment in Swat without consulting the local population and is now seeking to seize even more. “This will destroy our agricultural lands and impose severe restrictions on our lives. Once the cantonment is built, even hosting guests in our homes will require military approval,” he said.
Liaqat Ali Khan, another speaker, rejected the army’s plans outright. “The people of Swat will never accept a cantonment. The military should move to the country’s borders instead of occupying our lands,” he declared.
Sajad Khan, a local leader, urged the importance of preserving Swat’s fertile lands. “Instead of providing education and development opportunities, they are taking away our livelihoods. We will not back down from protecting our heritage,” he stated.
Riyaz Khan also opposed the project, calling the establishment of a cantonment in Kanju unacceptable. The local residents, however, remain united in their opposition. Many highlighted that their lands are their primary source of livelihood, and they are unwilling to lose any more. “In the past, we saw land acquisitions for an airport and a cantonment. Now, we will resist any further seizures with unity and strength,” one protester remarked.
Senior journalist Shamim Shahid explained that Swat did not have cantonments in the past. “The military arrived in 2009 during operations against militants and has remained since then. Now, they are building permanent facilities, and residents fear losing their lands and livelihoods,” he said.
Shahid added, “Both the motorway to Kalam and the cantonment in Swat are being constructed on agricultural lands. Locals have urged authorities to build the motorway along the riverbank to save fertile areas, but their concerns are being ignored.”
The Swat district administration stated that the Khyber Pakhtunkhwa government granted permission for the military to establish cantonments several years ago, and construction work is ongoing.
