Jashn-i-Chitral could have attracted terrorists, not tourists, say political leaders

Report Zahiruddin, Chitral

People from different walks of life have appreciated the decision of the provincial government to postpone Jeshn-i-Chitral which was scheduled to commence from October 12.
District heads of different political parties and representatives of civil society organizations said on Saturday time was quite inappropriate to hold the fair and make jubilation when the situation in the neighbouring districts was highly tense and precious human lives were perished every day.
The district president of Awami National Party, Syed Muzafar Ali Shah Jan said his party did patronize sports and cultural activities but at peace times only, while the fair was ill-timed.
He said the general public did not favour the holding of the fair due to the prevailing circumstances in the adjacent districts of Swat and Dir but some elements were evincing keen interest only to boost their business. He said the people of Chitral and Swat have always enjoyed cordial relations while certain quarters did not want it to continue.
He said the people of Chitral are totally perturbed over the killing of the innocent people of Swat which is hit by high tension. Expressing his regrets, he said the provincial government should have examined the ground situation before deciding to hold the fair in Chitral instead of yielding to a few elements who always put forth their own interests.
The district secretary of PPP, Mohammad Hakim advocate, said the personnel of Chitral Scouts and police had been deployed in Swat and Bajaur and almost every week the dead bodies of one or two martyred personnel were brought to Chitral and the decision of the government to hold fair in Chitral had filled the people with anger.
He said security was the biggest problem as it could have provided a fair chance to the terrorist to come to Chitral and carry out his nefarious activities during the fair. He said the holding of the fair was more to attract the attention of terrorists than tourists towards the district.
Mr Hakim said his party did not want a fair which was against the will of the common people as the choice of time was totally wrong.
The amir of Jamaat-i-Islami, Maulana Ghulam Mohammad, said the people of Chitral did not want jubilation of any kind when the people in the neighbour districts were bleeding.
He said in the name of culture, no one will be allowed to propagate obscenity in the district and the exhibition of Kalash dance in Chitral city had been abandoned in 1974 due to the protests of the people. He said those fond of ‘cultural shows’ should go to Kalash valleys but it will not be allowed in Chitral.
He said the government should provide jobs and social security to the residents of this backward area as hungry people cannot make jubilations. He said the fair was a cruel joke with the jobless and poverty stricken people of Chitral.