PESHAWAR: The Khyber Pakhtunkhwa government has formed five teams consisting of senior civil and police officers to speak to the Levies and Khasadar personnel in merged tribal districts to quell their unrest over the promulgation of ordinances to merge their forces with the police.

A notification announcing the teams’ formation was issued by the establishment department saying in view of the growing unrest among Levies and Khasadar personnel in merged areas, it has become essential to engage them effectively.

It said some concerns of the personnel were ill-founded, while others could be addressed without causing any administrative and financial implications.

The notification said the teams would inform the Levies and Khasadar personnel that their forces’ merger with the police brings far more benefits to them and their communities in tribal districts than the past’s.

The teams will explain to the personnel that the recent legislation has protected their jobs and has provided avenues for their induction in the police department.

The notification said the working environment for Khasadar and Levies personnel would remain ‘undisturbed’ and that they would get more power to fight crime.

It added that the personnel would get protection against arbitrary disciplinary action but their refusal to carry out dues as members of the law-enforcement agency would constitute willful defiance and would carry greater repercussions.

The home secretary and provincial police chief will provide necessary support and policy advice on the matter as and when required.

The notification assigned Bajaur district to Malakand’s commissioner and regional police officer and Bajaur’s district police officer and deputy commissioner.

A team consisting of Peshawar commissioner and city police chief, Mardan RPO, and DCs and DPOs of Khyber and Mohmand districts will be responsible for own tribal districts.

Kohat’s commissioner and RPO and DCs and DPOs of Kohat, Orakzai and Kurram districts will be responsible for addressing the concerns of personnel from Kurram and Orakzai districts.

Commissioner and RPO of Bannu and DCs and DPOs of Bannu, Lakki Marwat and North Waziristan will examine the affairs of North Waziristan district, while the commissioner and RPO of Dera Ismail Khan district and DCs and DPOs of Dera Ismail Khan, Tank and South Waziristan districts will be responsible for allying concerns of personnel from South Waziristan district.

The teams have been directed to complete the process of engagement immediately.

Published in Dawn, March 28th, 2019