Punjab’s Information Minister Azma Bukhari on Saturday launched a strong condemnation of the Khyber Pakhtunkhwa (KP) government, accusing it of treating the victims of the Swat River tragedy in a deeply inhumane manner by transporting their bodies in garbage dumpers.
Speaking during a session of the Punjab Assembly, Bukhari said the deceased — tourists from Sialkot who were swept away by a sudden surge in the Swat River — were not only failed by the rescue services but were also denied dignity in death.
“The most shameful thing is that the rescue personnel couldn’t reach them on time, and when they finally did recover the bodies, they used a dumper — the kind used to transport garbage — to return their remains to Punjab,” Bukhari said. “If you couldn’t save them, the least you could have done was bring them home with respect. What was their crime?”
She questioned the absence of KP Chief Minister Ali Amin Gandapur during the tragedy, stating:
“He was standing outside Adiala Jail, serving a king, instead of his people.”
Bukhari also reminded the Assembly that similar incidents had occurred in past years, yet the KP government failed to learn any lessons.
“This isn’t even about governance anymore. It’s about basic humanity and empathy,” she added.
The incident occurred when 17 members of a family from Sialkot were picnicking by the Swat River and were suddenly swept away by powerful floodwaters. Rescue 1122 reported that the death toll has risen to 11, including women and children, while two people are still missing. Four were rescued during the early hours of the operation.
Rescue operations have now been ongoing for over 24 hours, covering a wide area from Khwazakhela to Barikot, with more than 120 rescue workers deployed from Swat, Malakand, and Shangla. Special boats and equipment are being used to locate the remaining victims.
