PHC orders CS, IGP to submit replies in case against Khasadar Act
PHOTO: PHC
A two-member bench of Peshawar High Court (PHC) has served notices on chief secretary and inspector general of police during the hearing of a case filed against the Khasadar Force Act 2019 and Levies Forces Act 2019 on Wednesday.
The bench comprising Justice Lal Jan Khattak and Justice Musarat Hilali heard the writ petition filed through Rahat Khan Nahaqi Advocate in which the petitioner has taken the stance that both the acts are against the law because in Khyber-Pakhtunkhwa (K-P) regional police officers (RPO) order the postings and transfers of the police while in the newly merged districts the postings are decided by district police officer (DPO).
The petitioner also stated that those Khasadar and Levies personnel who are serving in these districts have not taken oath under the Police Act 2017 in addition to the fact that policewomen are also not present in these tribal districts.
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The petitioner blamed that during the raids neither ladies police accompanies police party nor ladies police is available for the search of womenfolk.
Rahat Nahaqi informed the court that there are shortcomings in both the acts. Similarly, under the Police Act 2017 proper training is necessary for the police force but in the tribal districts all the personnel are without training.
He claimed that intelligence, investigation and information technology schools are not available for police in the merged districts, adding that additional SHOs have been hired in the districts who are retired constables and not skilled in investigation as well as policing. He requested the court to declare both the acts illegal and unconstitutional.
Published in The Express Tribune, November 11th, 2021.