This farewell picture of Honourable Shafi Ullah Gandapur as District Police Officer with journalists from Swat probably taken inside the Swat Press Club to which he was a frequent visitor. This group photograph was shared by Honourable Fazal Rahim Khan, to whom I recently complained to be sleeping over my Swat Membership Application for the last five months didn’t speak well of the Swat Press Club professionalism and courtesy to new entrants, who deserve a whole hearted welcome to strengthen journalistic fraternity and forums particularly in the voiceless valley of Swat.
As Mr. Shafi Ullah bids farewell to Swat as District Police Officer , his departure leaves behind a legacy both celebrated and marred by controversy. Throughout his difficult tenure , Shafi Ullah has been a controversial figure, drawing both admiration and criticism from the people of Swat who accused him of high handedness including myself, who made no bones of holding him responsible after a Swat Police Constable shot at the little children of my beloved school, the Public School Sangota Swat.
Known for his hard work rising from ranks to his present coveted position as District Police Officer, Shafi Ullah has been hailed for his devotion to duty . Despite Swat serving as home to some of the PTI’s stalwarts the police under the able command of its Inspector General Police Honourable Akhtar Hayat Khan Gandapur, ensured the police does not commit excesses at par with their counterparts in Punjab where even women were not spared political victimisation.
Yet, alongside the promise of professional accolades lies a shadow of controversy that has followed Mr. Shafi Ullah throughout his career. Allegations of excessive force have dogged him to the extent of being accused publicly of extra- Judicial killings by journalist Fayyaz Zaffer detained briefly during his tenure , who could be seen in this farewell picture along with his walking stick.
Despite the controversy that surrounds Mr. Shafi Ullah Gandapur , I personally wish him well despite his shortcomings and the mistakes he has made along the way professionally, but still he performed well under the most difficult and challenging environments. The recent suicide attack on the Chinese Nationals at the bordering Shangla District being one of such challenges of foreign sponsored sabotage and terrorism in which he had limited resources and official capacity to combat except street crimes and he proved himself in combating them successfully.
