Tales of valour: Walk organised to mark quartermaster’s death anniversary

Fazl Rabi died in attack on levies checkpoint in 2012

SHABQADAR: A walk was held in agency headquarters Khar, Bajaur Agency on Wednesday to mark the death anniversary of those who lost their lives in an attack that targeted a levies checkpoint on May 4, 2012.

Four years ago, a teenage suicide bomber targeted the checkpoint, killing at least 25 people, including seven law-enforcers. A banned outfit had claimed responsibility for the attack, saying levies officials Subedar Major Javed Khan and Subedar Quartermaster Fazl Rabi were their prime targets.

Participants at Wednesday’s walk paid tribute to Rabi, who was conferred Tamgha-e-Shujaat for killing several militants. A large number of political administration officials also attended the walk.

Remembering the fallen

Rabi’s job involved putting his life in danger to ensure the safety of others. He used to defuse bombs and improvised explosive devices and escaped several attempts on his life.

Although he had served in the levies force for three decades, Rabi did not receive any professional training for defusing explosive devices. He simply volunteered for the risky job at a time when nobody was willing to take on this difficult and dangerous pursuit.

Paragon of devotion

Speaking to The Express Tribune, Rabi’s son Shahid Ali said, “My father joined the force in 1980. On the basis of his excellent performance, hard work and bravery, he was promoted a number of times and held an integral position in the force.”



According to Ali, when he retired from the service in 2007, the authorities re-hired him on a contractual basis to utilise his experience and skills. “My father was among the pioneers of defusing explosive devices in the Bajaur levies force,” he said. “He also introduced a special squad without formal training.”

He added Rabi was the first person to arrive at a blast site and would supervise rescue work.

On the hit list

“My father was on the hit list of a banned militant organisation,” Ali said. “He was attacked several times. The militants repeatedly sent him warnings. But he did not tell us this. He never gave up and fought till his death.” According to Shahid, his father did not choose to join the force and entered the profession by chance.

“My father was first attacked in Khar near an old hospital,” he said. “Besides this, he was ambushed twice in Yousafabad near our house. On all these occasions, the militants planted IEDs at the roadside to target his vehicle.”

He added, “In another attempt, terrorists fired a rocket on his vehicle but he survived the attack.”

Ali added Rabi was part of the force at a time when the agency was a hub of terrorists and most levies personnel left their jobs as they feared a backlash from militants.

Published in The Express Tribune, May 5^th, 2016.