KARACHI, July 21: Pakistan’s first batch of women sky marshals will take to the air from Monday as part of a plan to tame would-be hijackers, an officer, who trained them, said here on Sunday.

Nine women, specially trained in martial arts and unarmed combat, will be establishing a record, as they become the first women combatants in the fight against terrorism.

They will be joined by 43 male colleagues, who together are in the first batch of the country’s sky marshals.

“This is the first time in the history of Pakistan that a batch of warrior women is being trained and inducted in the security affairs,” the army’s unarmed combat and martial arts chief instructor, Maj Syed Hamid Raza, told AFP.

He said, “Following the September 11 incidents, the ASF high-ups realised the necessity of this... and they hired me to train the first batch of unarmed combatants.”

The first group of 52 cadets, including the nine women, will pass out on Monday and will be deployed for security at the country’s airports as well as Pakistan International Airlines flights.

“We have trained them in such a way that their dependency on arms is minimised.

They will make an important role on board to foil any hijacking attempt,” said the officer.