BAJAUR: The families of scores of Levies personnel, who died in the line of duty, on Friday protested against government failure to award Shuhada package to them.

They also warned to launch a protest movement if their demand was not addressed within a week.

Besides family members of the personnel, workers of various political and religious parties and social activities attended the demonstration held at the main thoroughfare in the Khar Bazaar.

The protesters lamented that despite lapse of several years since the personnel were martyred the government had failed to announce the Shuhada package for them.

They said they had approached a number of officials both in the federal government and the then political administration of Bajaur, but to no avail.

They said various senior officials had promised to approve the assistance package for the families of the martyred Levies personnel, but 10 years had passed without such a package being approved.

They said that the Levies personnel had rendered their lives for the larger interest of the region, adding that they were proud of the great sacrifices of their loved ones.

The protesters regretted that the unnecessary delay in award of Shuhada package to the martyred Levies personnel had disappointed their families.

The protest was also addressed by scores of leaders of political, religious parties and social activists, including Pakistan Tehreek-i-Insaf MPA Anwar Zeb Khan and Bajaur Youth Jirga president.

They asked the government to grant the Shuhada package to the families of all the slain personnel of former Levies force.

Published in Dawn, August 15th, 2020