The former Khasadar and Levies forces personnel categorically rejected the Khasadar, Levies Act 2019 recently promulgated by provincial assembly of Khyber Pakhtunkhwa and announced they will launch a protest movement against the legislation.
The reservations were expressed during a protest gathering held in Jirga Hall, Landi Kotal in tribal Khyber district on Monday. MPAs Shafiq Sher Afridi and Mir Kalam Khan Wazir,chairman ex-Khasadar, Levies force action committee said. Jalal Wazir, Pakistan People Party (PPP) Khyber district President, Malik Nadeem Afridi, Malik Masel Khan, Deputy Superintendent Police Jahangir Afridi and others were notable speakers on the occasion.
Besides head of District Police Officer (DPO) Members Provincial Assembly from North Waziristan and Khyber districts, Mir Klam Khan Wazir and Shafiq Sher Afridi, large number of political workers, tribal elders, members of civil society and Khasadar and Levies forces personnel were among the participants.
The participants said that after merging of former tribal region into Khyber Pakhtunkhwa province, through police Act 2017, the on duty Khasadar and Levies forces had been granted police status and the Inspector General Police (IGP) Dr, Naeem Khan besides other officials pinned badges of police to the former Khasadar and Levies troops.
However, they said with the passing of the 2019 Act by the Khyber Pakhtunkhwa, their old status of Khasadar was restored which completely injustice to them and tantamount to negate their sacrifices, they rendered for the sake of the country.
"We have been deceived and we jointly from Bajaur to Waziristan will retaliate against it as the Act has been passed without our consent", they remarked. Being loyal to the state, they had accepted merging and had recognized IGP and DPOs their command officers and now its demanded to materialize the 22 points demand agenda, presented by Khasadar at the time of changing their status, they added.
The participant parliamentarians vowed that they would leave the Khasadar and Levies forces alone in that time of need and would raise their voice at the assembly forum.
"We will not attend meeting of the assembly till the Khasadar and Levies forces gets their right, they deserve", they maintained.
The Khasadar and Levies forces officials asked the 39 police officials had been deployed in the merged tribal districts on various positions to leave the districts within 24 hours and threatened that till resuming of their previous police status, they would not work under command of their DPOs and other high-ups.