Since its inception in 1895 the Malakand Levies have been using the Markhor Rifles. PHOTO: FILE
Pakistan Muslim League – Nawaz (PML-N) Senator Nisar Muhammad submitted a resolution on Monday, seeking to improve the overall performance of the Malakand Levies in the Senate. He stated that since its inception in 1895, the Malakand Levies have been using Markhor Rifles. At that time the number of levies officials was 192 and while the number has risen to 1,835 in 2014, antique rifles are still used to maintain law and order in the area that has seen a massive military operation in recent years and remains volatile.
"The rifles are to be kept in the museum [rather] than to fight militants," said the senator. He also revealed that the entire levies force only has 500 AK-47s. While majority of the force is either uneducated or under-qualified, in the absence of any other security apparatus they are solely responsible to conduct investigations and search for forensic evidence too.
The 24 check posts built by the British house the offices of the Malakand Levies to date. Each check post has two rooms and space for up to 50 men, Nisar Muhammad told the house.
In response to these claims, leader of the house, Raja Zafarul Haq said that the senator has brought up an important issue and the government recognises its importance. Haq said that Rs40 million has been demanded to train, educate and provide the Levies with newer equipment. The home department of Khyber Pakhtunkhwa is planning to provide an additional 500 AK-47s to the levies force. Furthermore, he requested the senator to withdraw the resolution to which he agreed.
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read 'the story of malakand field force' by s churchill ..... in other words i mean rifles doesnt matter its jazba that can win u a battle ............
Just a bit of historical correction needed here. The actual name of rifle is Lee Enfield Mark 4 Rifle which has been locally modified to Markhor Rifle (from Mark Four Rifle). It was adopted by British in 1939 and remained in service with Pakistan Army till as late as 1974.
And why are they using AK47s when a government owned monolith manufactures H&K licensed G3s and has been doing that for decades ? What is the purpose of spending so much money on setting up manufacturing facilities but then going out and importing the same ?
It is not true that the Pakistani government did not provide modern arms and missiles ... they did...to their strategic assets..the militants !
Its laughing "stock"... asnd rather than being called a laughing stock, it should be that the lawmakers should be ashamed of themselves that these men do not have the proper up-to-date weaponry
Sad state of affairs in Pakistan, a country plagued with militancy & terrorism. This is a case of negligence by all the governments in place in Pakistan in last 50 years. In last 2 decades while militancy was rising rapidly, it is very surprising that no government look into this matter. In my view if a proper and in-depth analysis carried out inside all the security agencies working in Pakistan, we will surely find some more places and agencies where obsolete equipment is still in use. Although I salute the security agencies for trying to maintain law and order in country with limited or no resources, I also want them to use the media platform to highlight the problems they faced due to inadequate arms and lack of other facilities