Names of 89 Mohmand Agency martyrs to be written in gold

Monument honouring sacrifices of security officials unveiled

GHALLANAI: In recognition of the sacrifices of security officials of the tribal areas due to terrorism, the Mohmand Administration has built a monument to martyrs in Ghallanai. The inauguration was held on August 14 to coincide with the country’s 70th Independence Day.

Political administration officials and tribal representatives paid tribute to the thousands that have lost their lives due to the actions of terrorists.

Mohmand Political Agent Mehmood Aslam Wazir and tribal elders, levies and Khasadar Force officials inaugurated the monument amid tight security at the agency headquarters, where the administration has already banned pillion riding of motorcycles and mobile coverage has been suspended since March 2017.



Wazir told tribal elders that the monument was the first of its kind in Fata. He paid tribute to the sacrifices of Mohmand tribesmen and said it is our responsibility to protect our independence from our enemy by any means necessary.

He said the names of 89 Khasadar and levies officials will be written in gold on the pillars of the monument, to recognise their sacrifices. To a question from The Express Tribune about the comparatively low compensation packages awarded to the heirs of martyred Khasadar and levies officials, he said that he has already filed a request with the quarter concerned to have the compensation packages upgraded.

He admitted that Khasadars were not being treated as equals and were deprived of the Rs3 million compensation packages. “We have requested framing a policy that officials killed in the line of duty should be considered equal”.



Mohmand Khasadar Force official Tahir Khan, who was on duty at the location, termed the construction of the monument historic one and told The Express Tribune that Khasadar officials must often arrange for their own weapons and food, while also having the lowest salaries, allowances, and martyr compensation packages.

Levies official Amjad Ali told The Express Tribune that like Khasadars, Levies also have low salaries and do not get any heavy weapons, food, or even proper posts to keep themselves safe during militant attacks. He also said levies officials often lack communications equipment to quickly contact authorities about any threat they recognise.

Malak Fayaz Khan, who previously led a peace militia in Khwazai, said the monument was a positive move as it was necessary to recognise the sacrifices of tribesmen for maintaining peace in the area. He said that his peace militia lost 23 men including six from his own extended family, and today, peace has been restored due to the sacrifices of such men.

He also said that the border fence in Mohmand Agency was a positive move and would help maintain peace in the region.