By: Shahzad Naveed
SWAT: A local jirga has taken a significant step to resolve the dispute between the Swat Royal Family and MPA Fazal Hakeem over the ownership of a bungalow that once belonged to the Wali of Swat.
The ongoing conflict escalated when the family of the governor of Swat handed over the remaining amount of Rs 240 million to the local jirga. Following this payment, the jirga issued a notice to provincial minister Fazal Hakeem, requiring him to vacate the bungalow within two months.
The dispute began in 2021 when Hakeem’s father-in-law purchased a part of the bungalow. Tensions arose over the use of the access road, prompting the jirga to decide that the bungalow should be returned to the royal family. The total price of the bungalow was set at Rs 400 million, but the conflict intensified due to payment delays.
This royal bungalow covers an area of 1,500 square feet, where Fazal Hakeem currently lives with his children. Last month, the disagreement between Provincial Minister Fazal Hakeem Khan and the royal family intensified when the royal family locked the main gate of the property, leading to Hakeem’s nephew breaking the locks to gain access.
In addressing the media, Salman Yousafzai, the son of Provincial Minister Fazal Hakeem Khan Yousafzai, stated that the bungalow issue remains unresolved. He claimed that Begum Sahiba had obstructed their access by locking the main gate, which left the children stranded outside. He explained that after their children returned home from school, they found the gate shut. This prompted his cousin to break the lock so that he could bring the children inside.
