PESHAWAR, Jan 7: The Commandant of the Malakand Levies, Lt-Col Said Rasool (retired), stressed the need for reorganizing and strengthening the Malakand Levies on Tuesday.

He declared that it was possible only when all the Levies personnel from subedar major to sepoy and the elected representatives of Malakand extended their full cooperation to him.

He was addressing the Levy Darbar at Malakand, arranged to finalize ways and means for strengthening of the Malakand Levies and maintaining its prestige to such an extent that the dwellers of other districts and foreigners could feel the impact of a disciplined force in the shape of Malakand Levies welcoming them on the borders of the Malakand. The retired subedar majors were also invited to the Darbar.

The commandant said history was testimony to the fact that the Malakand Levies had played a far better role in maintaining law and order on the soil of Malakand and was considered a gallant force.

He, however, regretted that owing to constant ignorance and political interference the Malakand Levies was affected badly, but declared that it would now be made into a force to be reckoned with.

He called upon the Levies men to come up with solid suggestions for modernizing the force and identify the measures for improving its capability. When they developed discipline in their ranks and blocked the way of the anti-social elements boldly and honestly, he added, the facilities would come their way.

The commandant admitted that the personnel of the Malakand Levies were doing their duty like other defence forces, including police, FC, etc., but they were not being provided the benefits available to other forces.

He regretted that constables in other forces were getting grade 4 or 5 while the Malakand Levies sepoys were serving in grade 1 or 2 which was unjust.

The Malakand Levies, he went on to say, was not only keeping eye on the law and order situation but was also engaged in majority of the functions like traffic control, protection of government property, etc.

He said the Levies men had also been detailed to assist officers in different district government departments.

He urged the post commanders to give more importance to the night patrolling and block the inlets and outlets of the smugglers, gamblers, dacoits and other anti-social elements, and announced that he would fully support the Levies personnel in any matter that was a hindrance in their official duty.

The Commandant declared to the post commanders that district Nazim Mohammad Hamayun Khan, local MNA, MPAs and other Nazimeen were fully cooperating with him in connection with strengthening of the Malakand Levies force and strictly directed them to wipe out the black spot of corruption from the Levies ranks.

Lt-Col Said Rasool (retired) said the Levy personnel should develop their character to such a level that the people in trouble could take sigh of relief on finding a Levies personnel before them and the criminals find it difficult to escape.

He announced that cases of all their issues had been taken up with the Safron Division and the provincial government and they would see a lot of beneficial measures implemented by June.

Later, all the retired subedar majors were asked to put forward their suggestions and proposals for modernization of the Levies force.

All the post commanders were allowed to explain their grievances and suggestions for improving their duty standard and checking the activities of criminals on the Malakand soil.—PPI