In a recent report published on November 4, 2024, by Dawn newspaper, misleading information regarding a land dispute in Kabal, Swat has caused significant unrest among local residents.
The report suggested that a local jirga, organized by local politicians, claimed that the military was seeking land for the expansion of a military cantonment, which residents were allegedly refusing to give.
However, security sources clarified that the Cantonment Board, in collaboration with the Survey of Pakistan, is conducting a routine survey of existing cantonment land in Kabal. This annual survey is intended to update land records and does not involve any new land acquisition.
The controversy arose after a meeting on October 27, led by a former councilor and a PTI MPA, which misrepresented the situation to locals, alleging that the military was attempting to seize civilian land for cantonment purposes. Security officials pointed out that the military has legally owned 995 acres of land in the Swat area since before 1947, and an additional 673 acres was acquired in 2016 for military use in various parts of Swat.
Following the jirga, the CEO of the Cantonment Board, alongside local military authorities, visited the Deputy Commissioner's office to clarify the situation to public representatives, assuring them that no expansion of the cantonment was planned. An assistant commissioner also met with local elders to inform them of the facts surrounding the issue.
Security sources criticized Dawn for publishing unverified claims, stating that such reporting undermines journalistic integrity and exacerbates community tensions.
