ISLAMABAD: Despite intense political pressure, Shahab Ali Shah, Chief Secretary Khyber Pakhtunkhwa, has launched a crackdown on the timber mafia, ordering the immediate arrest of 11 individuals involved in the illegal destruction of Chitral’s forests, signalling the end of their long-standing impunity.
Well-placed sources confirmed that the chief secretary has ordered Deputy Commissioner Lower Chitral Rao Hashim Azeem to arrest 11 key individuals behind the illegal timber operation in Chitral, accused of devastating the district’s forests and accelerating ecological collapse.
The chief secretary has also directed the deputy commissioner to take swift action by detaining the suspects under Section 3 of the Maintenance of Public Order (MPO) Ordinance, with the deputy commissioner subsequently instructing the District Forest Officer (DFO) to compile a report on the accused individuals.
The source added that, once the DFO completes the report, arrest orders will be issued in line with the chief secretary’s instructions, marking a milestone in the effort to save Chitral’s rapidly disappearing forests from the timber mafia.
Following their arrests, they added, the 11 accused timber mafia members and their alleged ringleader would be handed over to the National Accountability Bureau (NAB) for further investigation, tightening the grip on those involved in the illegal trade.
Sources said that some of the accused have political connections, particularly within the ruling Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI), and are moving from pillar to post to hinder the investigation and delay arrests.
However, they said that both the chief secretary and the secretary of forests, climate change, and environment Khyber Pakhtunkhwa have made it clear that no one will be spared, regardless of their political influence.
Documents obtained by this correspondent reveal the extent of the illegal timber trade in Chitral, showing alarming quantities of wood in the possession of the suspects.
According to the data, the following individuals are accused of hoarding large amounts of timber: Fazal Malik: 2,000 scants (8,000.00 cu ft), 330 logs (6,599.57 cu ft), and 560 trees (52,338.00 cu ft), totalling 66,937.57 cubic feet.
Hazrat Amin: 10,800 scants (38,177.46 cu ft), 2,144 logs (60,949.06 cu ft), and 3,139 trees (359,315.00 cu ft), with a grand total of 458,441.52 cubic feet.
Rab Nawaz: 3,800 scants (15,200.00 cu ft), 645 logs (8,280.53 cu ft), and 619 trees (77,011.00 cu ft), summing up to 100,491.53 cubic feet.
Siraj Ahmad: 14,700 scants (49,755.52 cu ft), 1,031 logs (41,609.76 cu ft), and 392 trees (69,313.00 cu ft), totalling 160,678.28 cubic feet.
Bakht Nazar: 15,262 scants (51,607.87 cu ft), 3,735 logs (81,353.25 cu ft), and 418 trees (35,042.00 cu ft), for a total of 168,003.12 cubic feet.
Jamsheed Khan: 2,000 scants (8,000.00 cu ft), 144 logs (3,183.00 cu ft), and 131 trees (27,819.00 cu ft), with a total of 39,002.00 cubic feet.
Hakim Khan: 1,722 scants (6,452.22 cu ft), 597 logs (9,926.54 cu ft), and 191 trees (23,853.00 cu ft), adding up to 40,231.76 cubic feet.
Khalid Parvez: 16,500 scants (65,144.00 cu ft), 1,187 logs (21,732.31 cu ft), and 588 trees (112,930.00 cu ft), totalling 199,806.31 cubic feet.
Ali Muhammad Khan: No scants, but 2,161 logs (35,320.27 cu ft) and 883 trees (82,070.00 cu ft), with a total volume of 117,390.27 cubic feet.
Locals fear for the sustainability of the district’s resources. “These activities are destroying our forests,” said a resident. “The timber mafia is draining Chitral’s resources for personal gain.”
A senior government official warned, “The rapid depletion of these forests threatens our way of life and disrupts the delicate balance of our ecosystem.”
Copyright Business Recorder, 2026
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