PESHAWAR, June 10: The situation in Swat has improved a lot as there has been no big incident except attacks on Malala Yousafzai and former MPA Shamsher Khan during the last four years, says MPA Dr Amjad Ali.
“Swat is peaceful now but the local administration and police should take more control of the area so that tourists can be encouraged to come to the scenic valley,” says the newly-elected MPA from Shamozai, who is also district president of Pakistan Tehreek-i-Insaf.
Despite having no political family background, Dr Amjad defeated PML-N senior vice president Amir Muqam with a margin of about 9,000 votes in PK-82 constituency.
He said that he was associated with PTI since 1996 and also with the Raleigh Jamaal. When militancy and floods affected the people, his efforts to collect donations from PTI and Raleigh Jamaal platforms, helped win the hearts of the people of Swat.
“This is perhaps the only reason that people have voted for me against the political heavy-weight Amir Muqam,” Dr Amjad said.
Talking about the militancy that erupted back in 2007 in idyllic Swat valley, he said that it looked like it was imposed on the people. It was never in the nature of the people, he said, adding that’s why such quick rehabilitation was possible and peace was restored in Swat.
He said that local administration and police should be empowered to take control from the security forces because police were more familiar with the local people.
Dr Amjad, who holds a degree in medicines but running his own construction and property business in Islamabad, said that people voted PTI for change but he himself did not promise something big just to get votes from people.
He said that people of Swat voted for Mutahidda Majlis-i-Amal because it promised imposition of Sharia but it disappointed people. The Swatis voted for Awami National Party as it promised restoration of peace and now people voted for change, he said.
“I did not promise any change. I would try to be in touch with them and won’t change even after becoming an MPA,” said Dr Amjad. He said that he used to run around and help people to get things done and the only change that he would want was not to change because his status had changed.
He said that he only told people during election campaign that he would not tell a lie to them and give true picture of things. He also believed that political leaders and the people should stay on the same page on every issue.
“I have no body-guard and people can access me easily,” the MPA said. There should be neither any difference nor any distance between a common man and an MPA, he added.
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