28th July 1969, heralded a new era in the history of Pakistan, when the former princely state of Swat was merged into Pakistan, opening floodgates of loot and plunder of its resources that just left its ugly scars on its beautiful landscape that today represents a sad spectacle of miseries and sufferings . The last Wali of Swat Hon. Maj Gen Jehanzeb, showing exemplary moral character simply walked out of his office post – merger not even taking a paper pin with him that he considered property of the people of Swat.
One fine morning my school fellow and class mate, a devoted Swati, Honourable Zahoor Iqbal, from the Presentation Convent Swat, known as Public School Sangota Swat, again founded by the Wali of Swat, gave me a frantic call. Zahoor owns the Shell Petroleum outlet in Rahim Abad located in the city of Mingora, known as ” Usman Filling Station”, named after his late father, to tell me that a Toyota Double Cabin Vehicle with official number plate is transporting historic artefacts from the Wali Sahab’s office and wanted me to help stop it.
I immediately passed on the information to Honourable Ismail Khan, the Dawn’s resident Editor in Peshawar, whom I nicknamed Commandan ( after the famous Afghan freedom fighter Ismail Khan from Herat). Unfortunately, the matter was not highlighted and this very silver plated artefact inscribed with the wordings,” Kashmir Stag, Presented by Maj. T. H. Cobb, Political Agent Malakand In 1947″, that today sadly adorns the Civil Services Mess in Peshawar ”
Today worldwide relics related to a particular region or country are returned to their country of origin as universal respect to World Heritage and even some historic sites and artefacts are classified so by UNESCO. Unfortunately, we in utter disregard to all moral and professional norms have ensured to demolish all the marvelous architectural buildings including the beautifully designed forts built under the perfectionist supervision of the Wali of Swat to be later replaced with the corrupt contractor erected ugly structures, the sole purpose of which remains money making .
A nation with no past have no future and we are that unfortunate nation, who believe both wisdom and history begins with us and, as if, nothing existed before us. I wonder if our Civil administrators will display the same moral standing like the Late Wali of Swat, and return what belongs to Swat that was never a conquered territory, but a state that was always part and pride of Pakistan for its exemplary governance.
The lessons of good governance of Swat State under its able administrator ideally should have been part of the syllabus at the “Civil Service Academy, ” for teaching to the the future administrators. A mere display of the historic artefacts, belonging to Swat State, mounted on the walls of Civil Services Mess , would never serve any professional purpose rather it lends credence to the image of our civil administrators , as plunderers of the regions under their administration, as opposed to their supposedly sacred duty, as guardians and custodians of our history, heritage and natural resources , to be safely passed on to the future generations.
