Government of Khyber Pakhtunkhwa marked seventy years of partnership with the Italian Archaeological Mission — a collaboration that has rendered valuable services in unearthing Gandhara’s buried history . The ceremony, was held at the Swat Serena Hotel, amongst distinguished guests stood members of Swat’s royal family, heirs to a legacy that shaped this valley’s identity, hosted by the gracious Secretary for Culture and Tourism, Dr. Abdul Samad. Yet, beneath the polite exchanges and speeches about heritage preservation, an unspoken tension lingered — the question of who truly owns Swat’s past.
The backdrop could not have been more symbolic. The celebration came as the historic palace of the late Wali of Swat — once a symbol of grace, authority, and progress — finds itself at the center of a deeply emotional controversy. A portion of this architectural gem, beloved by generations of Swatis, has reportedly changed hands. PTI parliamentarian Fazal Hakim purchased it from the second wife of the late Wali, a transaction now clouded by dispute and public dismay and disapproval .
At the heart of the storm stands Princess Zebunissa, the dignified yet solitary custodian of her family’s fading heritage. She has become the voice of resistance, striving to salvage not just bricks and blank stone , but a chapter of collective memory. For the people of Swat, the palace is not merely a royal residence; it is a symbol of their valley’s grace — a living museum of history, art, and nostalgia. To see it divided or commercialized feels, to many, like watching the past being auctioned away.
One wonders if this delicate matter has truly reached the attentive ears of the Chief Secretary or the ever-cultured Dr. Abdul Samad, whose stewardship of the province’s heritage has been widely commended. Or perhaps it awaits the vision of the newly elected Chief Minister, Sohail Afridi, to intervene — to prevail upon his own party’s minister to honour the sentiments of the valley’s people as the defiant Minister reportedly refused to give up what belongs to the people of Swat. .
The local jury’s proposed resolution — to reverse the sale by compensating the buyer fairly — offers a dignified path forward. It is not about politics or possession; it is about preservation. By accepting these terms, the government and the royal family together can safeguard the image of Swat’s nobility and protect a landmark that belongs not to individuals, but to history itself.
If the royal household truly wishes to preserve its ancestral image — that aura of benevolent leadership which once defined Swat — now is the moment to stand united. Solidarity among them would send a powerful message: that royalty, at its noblest, still listens to the heartbeat of its people.
As the Italian archaeologists raise their toasts to seventy years of friendship and discovery, one hopes their partners in Swat-the royalty of Swat and the Government of Khyber Pakhtunkhwa rediscover something equally vital — the courage to defend their own heritage before it fades into the ruins