SWAT: A member of the royal family of the former Swat state has accused the Khyber Pakhtunkhwa`s minister for livestock and fisheries, Fazal Hakeem Khan, of illegally using historic royal palace premises in Saidu Sharif.

Zaibun Nisa Jillani, granddaughter of the last ruler of Swat, Miangul Jahanzeb, raised the issue during a gathering of elders held in Saidu Sharif.

The meeting was also attended by Shehryar Amirzeb, another grandson of the former Wali, as well as a large number of notables from across the district, including Irfan Chattan, Sultan Ali Khan, Attaullah Jan,Irshad Khan, Saleem Khan, and others.

Addressing the attendees, she alleged that upon her return from abroad, she was shocked to discover that the provincial minister had constructed a gate in the back wall of the royal palace and was using it to access his newly built residence behind the palace grounds.

`The minister has purchased the land behind the royal palace and built a house there, but instead of using a proper access route, he installed a gate in the palace wall and regularly moves through the historic premises. I was stunned to see several vehicles and dozens of people occupying the palace lawn,` she said.

Zaibun Nisa further claimed that the minister had unlawfully installed CCTV cameras on the royal palace property without the consent of the royal family.

`This is not just a breach of privacy, rather an encroachment on an historic and culturally significant site.

`We have requested the district police officer (DPO) Swat to intervene and ensure the security of the palace,` she added, urging the provincial government to take immediate action and stop `unlawful use of the property by the minister`.

The royal palace of Swat, once the residence of Wali of Swat, is a prominent symbol of the region`s history and heritage.

The allegations have sparked concerns among the cultural circles and the locals who view the site as a legacy of Swat`s princely past.

Participants of the meeting expressed their dismay and termed the development a `disgrace` to the memory of Wali-i-Swat.

`We revere Miangul Jahanzeb Wali Sahib, who transformed Swat into a model welfare state. It is deeply upsetting that political figures are using the palace without permission,` they stated.

In response, Shahid Ali Khan, the city mayor from Pakistan Tehreek-i-Insaf (PTI) and brother-in-law of Minister Fazal Hakeem Khan, told the media that the land in question was legally purchased by him in his mother`s name from the second wife of Miangul Jahanzeb, as it was part of her rightful share.

`Later, my mother gifted the land to my sister, who is the minister`s wife.

`Now, if the royal family wishes to reclaim the property, I am willing to return it,` he said, adding that he held deep respect for the entire royal family and would comply with whatever decision they made regarding the matter.

To resolve the issue, both the parties have handed over authority to a local jirga comprising Abdur Rahim, president of the Traders Federation, journalist Fayaz Zafar; Dr Khalid Mahmood, Khpal Kor Foundation director Mohammad Ali; and social activist Afarin Khan.

The jirga is expected to announce its decision soon.