Acquisition of land by govt for road project assailed.

SWAT -- Speakers at a rally held here on Tuesday said that construction of the second phase of Swat Expressway on the agricultural lands would deprive people of their livelihood.

They said that locals would have to migrate to other areas for earning livelihood if government continued to acquire their lands under section 4 of Land Acquisition Act.

The gathering at Nishat Chowk in Mingora was organised by local elders against construction of Swat Expressway on agricultural lands. Leaders of all political parties except PTI, office-bearers of Swat Traders Federation, Swat Lawyers Association, All Swat Hotel Association, Swat Qaumi Jirga and representatives of all the tehsils participated in the event.

The rally was addressed by Pashtun Tahaffuz Movement chief Manzoor Pashteen, ANP's Rahmat Ali Khan, PPP's Irfan Chattan, JI's Hameedul Haq, QWP's Sher Badar Khan, PkMAP's Mukhtiyar Yousafzai, Haj Zahid Khan, Dr Khalid Mahmood and others.

Manzoor Pashteen said that Swat had more population than available land. 'Still, unfortunately, under section 4 major portion of land has been grabbed for different purposes,' he said. He added that Swat Expressway was being constructed on agricultural fields that would deprive people of their lands.

Elders oppose construction of expressway on agricultural farms

He said that agricultural land was the only source of livelihood for most of the people. 'We are not against the expressway but it must be constructed along the Swat River to save people...