News Desk:
PANJGUR: Members of the Levies Force took to the streets in Panjgur on Saturday to protest against the government’s decision to merge the force with the Balochistan Police, calling the move unconstitutional and unjustified.
The protest rally began from the Levies Headquarters and concluded at Mir Chakar Khan Rind Chowk, where participants chanted slogans rejecting the merger and carried placards demanding the restoration of the Levies Force.
Addressing the protesters, Risaldar Major Sabir Ali Kuchki, Dafadar Muhammad Azam, Rais Zubair Shah, and other leaders said the merger lacked constitutional and legal justification, and had put the future of Levies personnel at risk. They noted that many senior Levies officers now face complications in promotions and service matters.
Speakers criticized the government for undermining the rich history and sacrifices of the Levies Force, stating that labeling the Levies as a “failed force” was deeply insulting to those who had laid down their lives in the line of duty.
They emphasized that the Levies Force has long been a trusted and effective institution in Balochistan’s tribal areas, enjoying the confidence of the local population. The leaders vowed to challenge the merger on all legal forums and urged the provincial government to withdraw its decision and restore the Levies Force to its original status.
The protesters argued that before taking such a major step, the government should have conducted a public referendum to determine whether the people of Balochistan favored maintaining the Levies or merging it with the police. They maintained that the Levies Force represents Balochistan’s cultural and tribal identity and cannot simply be dissolved on administrative grounds.
