‘Collective responsibility’: Khasadars refuse to accept deducted salaries
Political administration had fined each officer Rs2,000 for failing to perform duties.
The money received through the fine will be paid as compensation to those whose vehicles were burnt down, says political agent. PHOTO: FILE
DERA ISMAIL KHAN:
Khasadars from the Ahmedzai, Dottani and Suleman Khel tribes have refused to accept their salaries for the month of February after Rs2,000 was deducted from their monthly pay. The decision was made at a jirga held on Friday in Rustam Bazaar, Wana subdivision.
The political administration of South Waziristan deducted money from khasadars’ salaries as a fine for the damage done when unidentified persons set the vehicles of Ahmedzai tribe on fire on Gomal Zam Road, linking South Waziristan with Dera Ismail Khan.
Within the past two months, six vehicles have been burnt at various points on Gomal Zam Road.
South Waziristan Political Agent (PA) Shahidullah Khan told The Express Tribune that the money received through the fine will be paid as compensation to those whose vehicles were burnt down.
A khasadar official of the Ahmadzai tribe, requesting anonymity, said the force will not accept salaries unless the political administration revokes the unjust fine. “Whenever there is a crime or violent act we have to bear the brunt of it on behalf of the whole tribe because of the collective responsibility clause in the Frontier Crimes Regulation,” he said.
“Why should the salary of an officer not performing duty on Gomal Zam Road be cut?”
Published in The Express Tribune, March 16th, 2013.
Khasadars from the Ahmedzai, Dottani and Suleman Khel tribes have refused to accept their salaries for the month of February after Rs2,000 was deducted from their monthly pay. The decision was made at a jirga held on Friday in Rustam Bazaar, Wana subdivision.
The political administration of South Waziristan deducted money from khasadars’ salaries as a fine for the damage done when unidentified persons set the vehicles of Ahmedzai tribe on fire on Gomal Zam Road, linking South Waziristan with Dera Ismail Khan.
Within the past two months, six vehicles have been burnt at various points on Gomal Zam Road.
South Waziristan Political Agent (PA) Shahidullah Khan told The Express Tribune that the money received through the fine will be paid as compensation to those whose vehicles were burnt down.
A khasadar official of the Ahmadzai tribe, requesting anonymity, said the force will not accept salaries unless the political administration revokes the unjust fine. “Whenever there is a crime or violent act we have to bear the brunt of it on behalf of the whole tribe because of the collective responsibility clause in the Frontier Crimes Regulation,” he said.
“Why should the salary of an officer not performing duty on Gomal Zam Road be cut?”
Published in The Express Tribune, March 16th, 2013.