TANK: The personnel of South Waziristan Levies locked the main gate of political kutcheri here on Monday to protest non-payment of their allowances.

The protesting Levies personnel also stopped government employees and hundreds of tribal elders from entering the compound of political kutcheri. They besieged the compound where political agent along with other officials was residing, sources said.

More than 200 Levies personnel belonging to Mehsud, Dotani, Sulemankhel and Wazir tribes claimed that they were not paid the ‘non-attractive area’ allowance for the last several years.

The commander of the enraged Levies personnel Subedar Saeedullah Barki, Subedar Jehangir Mehsud, Subedar Qadir Mehsud, Subedar Azam Khan Mehsud, Naib Subedar Ashraf Mehsud, Naib Subedar Akabar Khan Mehsud, Subedar Niaz Mohammad Dotani and Subedar Musa Khan Sulemankhel told journalists that none of them had been paid the allowance for the last several years.

Protesters demand release of ‘non-attractive area’ allowance

They said the withheld allowance of each Levies man reached Rs100,000 but the government was not releasing the amount despite their repeated appeals. They said that the administration turned a blind eye to their demands. They alleged that they were deprived of all the facilities given to Levies personnel in the tribal agencies.

Speaking on the occasion, Nasrin, a woman constable of Levies, said that they performed duty in conflict zone of South Waziristan tribal region. She said that they performed duty in Nashtar, Shawal, Makeen and Wana areas of Waziristan in the worst times but still they were deprived of all facilities and allowances.

However, the protesting Levies personnel ended siege of the political compound after South Waziristan Political Agent Islam Zeb held successful talks with their commanders.

An official of the political administration told Dawn that they had sent a letter to Auditor General of Pakistan office for releasing allowances to Levies personnel in South Waziristan. Another letter would be also forwarded to same office soon in that regard, he added.

The official ruled out any misappropriation in the allowances of Levies personnel. The amount received so far was distributed among the Levies personnel, he added.

Meanwhile, bullet-riddled body of a young man identified as Afzal Khan was found near Kot Sangeen area. The signs of tortures were also visible on the body.

Amin Mehsud, the father of the deceased, told police that his son was kidnapped by unidentified persons few days ago. He said they had no enmity with anyone.

Published in Dawn, December 2nd, 2014