Chagai, Balochistan (July 24) – In a powerful show of dissent, hundreds of Levies personnel protested in Dalbandin against the proposed merger of Levies into the police force, accusing the government of violating court-ordered stay directives. The protest took place outside the Dalbandin Levies Station, where senior officers—including Risaldar Major and Naib Risaldar—voiced concerns in a press conference.
Levies Accuse Government of Ignoring Court Stay Order
Protesters alleged that despite a clear court-issued stay order, authorities are continuing with the Levies-to-police integration, calling it “a direct violation of court orders and contempt of judiciary.”
“Those who do not respect the court have no right to impose their decisions on us,” one protester remarked.
Levies: A Trusted Tribal Security Force in Balochistan
Officials emphasized that the Levies force in Balochistan is a historic, community-rooted tribal force, established during the British colonial era. They said Levies have successfully maintained peace and resolved tribal disputes across Chagai, Dalbandin, and other districts.
“Levies personnel are trusted by the local tribes and have a better understanding of the tribal social structure than the conventional police,” stated a Levies officer.
Allegations of Secretive, Non-Transparent Merger Process
Levies officers claimed that the merger documents were signed secretly at night by a recently transferred Assistant Commissioner, raising concerns of a non-transparent and unlawful process.
Levies Demand Cancellation of Merger Plan or Fair Compensation
The protesters demanded that the government cancel the Levies merger plan immediately. If dissolution is unavoidable, they urged the state to offer legal benefits, pension rights, and financial compensation to all Levies personnel.
“We should be retired with dignity—not merged forcibly,” said one of the protesters.
Merging Levies and Police Threatens Tribal Order
Officials warned that merging the Levies and police forces in Balochistan could destabilize the tribal administrative structure that has ensured decades of local governance and stability. They argued that the tribal system and Levies operations cannot be replaced by a centralized police model without community backlash.
Levies Vow Peaceful Legal Struggle for Rights
The protesting Levies personnel concluded by reaffirming their commitment to a peaceful, legal, and constitutional struggle to protect their institutional identity, jobs, and community trust.
