Swatis rejoice as Amn Festival gets underway

MINGORA: Thousands of Taliban militants and their supporters had gathered last year in the Grassy Ground where Maulana Sufi Muhammad declared the superior courts un-Islamic and denounced the Constitution but on Tuesday it was the site of rejoicing people, music and dance scenes, circus and all those activities free people could carry out. The Grassy Ground is hosting these activities in connection with the Amn Festival, or Peace Festival, being held by the Provincial Reconstruction, Rehabilitation and Settlement Authority (PaRRSA) in collaboration with the Pakistan Army. The first phase of the festival is being held in Mingora, the headquarters of Swat district, from June 29 while the second phase will begin in the prime tourist destination, Kalam, from July 11. The fair will continue till July 18 in both the towns. The purpose of the event is to bring back the tourists to the Swat following an end to the Taliban control as a result of the military operation last year. It is also aimed at erasing the bitter memories of the people and removing fear of the militants from their hearts. The event was inaugurated by civil and military officers amid cheers and songs. The site was beautifully illuminated and decorated with welcoming banners, buntings and fluttering Pakistan flag. People waited in long queues till the filing of this report (9:35 p.m.) to enter the ground. The security forces had put in place strict security, carrying out body search, making people to go through the walk-through gates. The security forces personnel were deployed inside the ground in adequate number. People had set up stalls of different items. But stalls representing culture of the area were missing. “We don’t expect business here. The organizers are charging us 1,000 per day. But we want to make this event a success, as we are interested in a durable peace,” said Anwar Ali, who had set up a stall of shoes and bags. He hoped the festival would attract tourists and was happy to see a good number of people at the site. “We have no fears now,” he said, amid songs being loudly played in the background. The Pakistan Army had put on display the pictures of the valley representing its newfound life, under the title “Swat smiles again.” People streamed into the Grassy Ground in the evening with everyone wearing a toothy smile. “This is Eid for the people of Swat. Look at the shining faces of the children,” said a happy Zahid Khan, president of the Swat Hotels Association and a staunch opponent of Taliban. The women, who faced risks moving outside their houses in times when Taliban were calling the shots, were roaming around the stalls. Their number is expected to rise. Children who would see hung bodies of people at squares and dumped bodies at roadsides and field were the most jubilant lot. “I saw motorcyclist’s stunts (at the circus),” said six-year-old Wajid Ali. The child with an angelic face said he was enjoying being at the festival However, two religious students sitting inside but away from the place of activities were not happy with the music and dances. They had also come there to enjoy but were expecting something else. “They (the organisers) were announcing that there would be lions, elephants and other animals. We had come to see that but were disappointed to see music and dance only,” one of them said, refusing to disclose his name. “It is good as it will remove fear from the hearts of the people,” chipped in the third friend of the religious students. A year ago, no one could imagine seeing such sights at the Grassy Ground. There was control of Taliban, fear in the heart of people and no end in sight. In fact, it was the same ground from where the stage for a military operation was set. Thousands of Taliban and their supporters had gathered at this venue to send challenging message to the government. The now jailed chief of the banned Tanzim Nifaz Shariat-e-Muhammadi (TNSM), Maulana Sufi Muhammad, publicly spoke at the Grassy Ground against the superior courts in April last year and condemned democracy and the Constitution. His speech changed the mind of the government, which until then was seeking a negotiated settlement to end the militancy through Sufi Muhammad.