Punjab information minister slams KP govt over Swat River tragedy

Punjab Information Minister Azma Bokhari has strongly criticised the Khyber Pakhtunkhwa (KP) government following the tragic drowning of 13 members of the same family in the Swat River. She expressed deep sorrow over the incident and accused the provincial administration of negligence and poor crisis response.

According to Bokhari, the affected tourists were left waiting for two hours before any rescue assistance arrived, reflecting what she described as a complete breakdown of emergency response mechanisms in KP.

She pointed out that while the victims pleaded for help, the KP government remained silent and inactive. She also took a swipe at KP Chief Minister Ali Amin Gandapur, stating that even his helicopter failed to reach the site in time.

The Punjab minister went on to accuse the KP government of misusing its resources and machinery for political purposes rather than public service. She alleged that KP’s focus is limited to launching attacks against the federal government and Punjab, while basic infrastructure and emergency services remain neglected.

Swat tragedy: CM Gandapur suspends officials over negligence

Bokhari also condemned the recently uncovered Rs 40 billion Kohistan corruption scandal, calling it a stain on the KP administration. She said the scandal exposes the contradiction between the government’s public image and its actual conduct, portraying a group that once claimed honesty and transparency as now being mired in certified corruption.

She alleged that the Khyber Pakhtunkhwa (KP) government used trash dumpers to transport the b0dies of victims from the Swat River tragedy to Punjab.

On Friday, 18 tourists, most of them from Punjab, were swept away by strong currents in the Swat River. So far, 10 have been confirmed dead, four were rescued alive, and the search for the remaining four is still ongoing.

Bokhari criticised the KP government, claiming it failed to provide timely rescue operations and showed a lack of dignity in handling the deceased. “While they couldn’t save lives, the least the authorities could have done was to treat the bodies with respect,” she said.

According to her, funds meant for the welfare of KP's people are being diverted towards advertisements, fugitives, and internal profiteering. She remarked that this long-standing pattern of corruption over the past 12 years has deprived the people of KP of essential services like health, education, and infrastructure.

Highlighting the gravity of the Kohistan scandal, Bokhari noted that even individuals previously convicted in major corruption cases have raised concerns about the matter, which she claimed is an indicator of how severe and shameful the issue has become.

Azma Bokhari concluded by demanding a transparent investigation into both the Swat River tragedy and the Kohistan corruption case. She urged the KP government to take immediate and effective measures to improve tourist safety and ensure that public funds are used for the benefit of the people.