South Waziristan: Khasadars threaten to abandon check posts

Approximately 2,050 khasadars are responsible for duties such as manning check posts in Wana.

DERA ISMAIL KHAN:

The Ahmadzai khasadar force warned if their salaries are not paid by February 14, they would vacate check posts assigned to them in South Waziristan.

This was submitted by 22 khasadar officials in a written decision to the Wana Assistant Political Agent’s (APA) office.

According to the written statement, the decision to abandon check posts was taken after the Ahmadzai jirga failed to get the khasadars paid.

One official, requesting anonymity, told The Express Tribune that salaries had not been paid for several months. “Whenever there is an attack on security forces or a violent incident takes place, the political administration withholds our wages under the Frontier Crimes Regulation.”

This time round, according to the subaidar, their salaries were not paid because of such incidents in Wana.



“A Jirga was held and our demands were conveyed to the political administration, but our payment problems have not been resolved.”

Despite this, he added, the khasadars were still fulfilling their duties in South Waziristan. “The government should not just facilitate our payment, but also praise our work – unfortunately we are begging for our rightful dues.”

Several attempts were made to contact APA Shahid Ali before this report was filed, however, another APA official confirmed Ahmadzai khasadars had informed the political administration of their decision to vacate their posts and all attempts would be made to resolve the issue through jirgas before the deadline.

Approximately 2,050 khasadars, a hereditary tribal security force, are responsible for duties such as manning check posts in Wana. The force is split into two batches of 1,025 and each batch performs its tasks every alternate month.

Published in The Express Tribune, February 13^th, 2013.