Passing out: 50 levies officials complete training

PARACHINAR: As many as 50 new recruits of the levies force completed a six-month long training programme in Parachinar, Kurram Agency on Wednesday. Kurram Militia Commandant Colonel Umar Malik, Kurram Agency Assistant Political Agent Shahid Ali Khan, local elders and a large number of local tribespeople attended the passing out parade of the levies personnel. During their speeches, Malik and Shahid both hailed the role of levies in maintaining the writ of the state and said it had played a pivotal role in the war against militants and restoration of peace in the tribal region. Malik said force personnel will now receive pensions upon retirement and they are being trained in light of law-enforcement requirements pertinent to the tribal heartlands. He said the number of levies officials in Kurram Agency has reached 2,000 and a request has been tabled with the FATA Secretariat to add to the strength. The recruits performed simulations to highlight the various aspects of their rigorous training programme.

Published in The Express Tribune, September 11^th,  2015.