The sudden and simultaneous fires ironically ignited in the previous month and on the World Environment Day particularly, the UN theme for 2022 being “Only One Planet” is a stark wakeup call & symbolic of eco-terrorism plaguing our region.

“Overall at Pakistan level forest reserves are already under stress owing to demographic explosion and climate change. Being ranked as among the top high risk nations in the region, the loss of huge forest tracts and fragile ecosystems is an example of existential threat to Pakistan’s future” according to a leading environmental expert.

The unprecedented inferno involving forest fires raging across the entire KP, part of Punjab & Balochistan provinces and should have alarm bells ringing across Pakistan and the world capitals.

“The unseen sinister and criminal hands causing `environmental terrorism’ must be exposed, apprehended, punished and made examples for posterity and ensuring the rule of law. This crime against fragile eco systems, the environment and people of KP is too grave to be leftover to departmental inquiry alone and let it be buried under bureaucratic cover up" says Hamid Afridi, a development expert based in Islamabad. 

“The numbers of fires simultaneously, in different regions are not incidental, nor the deaths of neither innocent souls nor injuries to the brave fire fighters and forest officers a routine affair to be forgiven, said Mansoor Ahmad from IAP. 

According to KP government sources "488 hectares had burned so far", however, according to Dawn news report and independent sources these figures are over 17000 hectares. Independent sources state the mentioned figures relate to “reserved and protected” forests, and the humongous loss occurred on communal forests, the same are not being reflected in official reports which remains a dilemma. How many plants planted on BTTP have been deliberately blazed also need to be probed by KP government functionaries, which seems to be the major motive behind the catastrophic infernos. Let the honorable court demand both the figures on record to fix responsibility.

The KP forest department report did not mention the total damage but as per PC-I per hectare rate for plantation in 10 billion tree project amounts to approximately Rs. 35000 in Hazara Region II and Malakand III, while in South 74000 and in enclosures it is Rs 21500 per month per 40 hectare.

Peshawar High Court is requested to kindly take a Suo Moto action and make accountable the KP government for failing to preempt this historic fire and total lack of preparedness to take timely measures. 

“The concerned citizens of KP and Pakistan are urged to sign this petition be filed with the department/GoKP and PHC to seek a professional investigation by an independent commission comprising panel of experts from Pakistan & international agencies facilitated by KP government, to determine responsibility and recommend future courses of action and preventive measures with clear guidelines for the forest staff, local authorities, LEAs, communities, etc. This existential threat should not be buried; otherwise, we will have bigger disasters in years to come”

 

This collective petition is by the following organizations:

Sarhad Conservation Network 

Peshawar Clean Air Alliance 

Institute of Architects of Pakistan 

Karwan Tehreek 

Hayatabad Citizens forum 

Clean & Green Peshawar 

Clean & Green Pakistan 

Usmania Welfare Trust 

Peshawar Youth Organisation