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MALAKAND.8M.COM
MALAKAND LEVIES FORCE
ESTABLISHMENT OF MALAKAND LEVIES
In 1895 after the British conquered Swat, Dir, Chitral, Bajawar and Malakand, a collective force was established as the Swat Levies, which included therein the Dir Levies, Chitral Border Police and Malakand Levies. Maj. A.H. Dean who was the first Political Agent of Malakand was assigned the task to command the Swat Levies. The force would have to take care of Swat, Dir, Chitral and Malakand areas.
In the first batch, a total of 192 personnel were recruited as sepoys. The first Jamadar of the Swat Levies was Mohammad Akram Khan son of Said Anwar Khan of Temergara, Dir District.
In 1920, when the Swat Levies were reorganized, Sadullah Khan, known as Khan Sahib was promoted as Subedar Major and he thus became the first Subedar Major of Swat Levies.
In 1950 regular police was introduced in Swat by conversion of the Levies personnel into it. In Chitral, the border police force was reorganised and separated from Swat Levies while in Dir district and Malakand Agency Levies personnel were given separate designations as Dir Levies and Malakand Levies. Those personnel of Swat Levies who were serving in Malakand Agency, formed the nucleus for the Malakand Levies.
In Dir district, the police force was introduced in addition to the Levies but in Malakand, no additional police force was recruited. Thus ‘Malakand Levies’ continued to perform the dual tasks of the Levies as well as the police in the Agency.
The Malakand Levies since inception till 1977, worked on ad hoc and temporary bases and therefore were not entitled to pension, except gratuity of a negligible amount.
The following Subedar Majors remained in charge of the Malakand Levies:
Sadullah Khan Khattak of Nowshera 1920-1925
Amir Hamza of Sherey Kera Kohat. 1925-1927
Ghulam Haider Khan of Batal, Hazara 1927-1930
Said Faqir of Batkhela 1930-1935
Pir Taj Mohammad Khan of Mardan. 1935-1940
Qamar Ali Khan of Tirah 1940-1945
Fazle Wahid Khan of Thana 1945-1950
Abdul Wahid Khan of Thana 1955-1962
Mir Dad Khan of Haryankot 1962-1966
Ghulam Khan Thana 1966-1970
Dera Wadan of Pir Khel 1980-1982
Sattar Khan of Thana 1982-1987
Saeed Gul of Malakand 1987-1988
Saifur Rahman of Agra 1988-1990
Qasim Khan of Khar 1991-1992
Behram of Kofar 1992-1993
Noor Mohammad of Thana 1993-1995
Fazli Habib of Kot 1995-1997
Amir Gul of Malakand 1997-2002
Amir Ghulam of Kot 2002-2003
Dilawar Khan of Matkani 2003 to date
Here, it may be mentioned that it used to be an honour for the leading Khans to have their scions in the Malakand Levies.
The Malakand Levies till very late used to have a horse troop of 30 sawars. The main duty of the sawars was to take Dak from Malakand to the Levy Posts at Chakdara, Head Amanadara, Batkhela, Dargai, Sakhakot, Palai and Harichand. The Political Agents and the army officers of Malakand and Chakdara Forts would also use their horses for polo at Khar village.
FIRST LEVIES MAN KILLED IN ACTION
The Levy posts at Kot and Agra were sanctioned in 1914 and 1934 respectively. In 1934-35, the British government had launched an attack on Kot, Totai, Selai Patay and Agra. The reason behind the attack was that a Hindu girl was kidnapped by the son of Sher Malik of Dheri Jolagram to Agra and the people of Agra were not prepared to hand her over to the Political Agent of Malakand. All the armed forces of the British had encamped in Kot. On the other side, one Faqir of Ali Nagar (Afghanistan) had gathered a tribal lashkar for fighting against the British Army. A bloody skirmish was fought at Agra in which, the tribesmen besides other many British and Indian soldiers killed the Political Agent of Malakand Mr. Bert.
In Selai Patai, two Malakand Levies personnel namely Gul Hassan and Nurab Gul of Kot as well as two sepoys of Dir Levies were killed and many others were wounded. The tribal lashker was dispersed and the British took possession of Agra. In the first instance, Agra post was handed over to the Frontier Constabulary.
Later in 1938, the Agra Fort was handed over to the Malakand Levies. In 1914, the Upper Swat Canal was completed. The lands of Sam Ranizai were given water for irrigation on payment of water rate. In order to collect water rate from the landowners, 12 Levy men were also sanctioned. They were called Malakand police. Their pay and allowances were the same as that of Malakand Levies.
In 1938, the Jabban Power House was completed. Lord Linlithgo, the then Viceroy of India performed the opening ceremony. For watch and ward services, 30 additional Levy personnel were sanctioned under the command of the Political Agent of Malakand. Three piquets were also constructed around the Power House. After the construction of Dargai Power House, more Levy men were sanctioned.
At the end of World War II, the population of Malakand Agency increased to a great extent resulting in jumping up law and order situation to a high level. Thus after lengthy correspondence, 350 Levy personnel were sanctioned.
When the first batch of Levies was recruited in 1895, they were required to bring their own rifles. No uniform was required. Generally, the personnel recruited, were from the elite families of the Agency. In some cases, direct Junior Commissioned Officers (JCOs) were recruited amongst the said families. After World War II, rifles were provided to the Levy personnel. It was after the creation of Pakistan that 303 rifles were supplied to them. In the year 1991-95, the aforesaid rifles were replaced with SMGs (Sten Machine guns).
NAIK JEHAN BAKHT SHAHEED TAMGHA-E-SHUJAAT
Like other forces, the Malakand Levies’ history is also replete with deeds of heroism. Many officials of the Malakand Levies have shown distinctions while serving in the field. Their services have been acknowledged with rewards.
In those getting honours is one Naik Jehan Bakht Shaheed son of Mo-hammad Karim Khan of Dheri Alladand village who had sacrificed his life but had not allowed the anti-social elements to materialise their nefarious designs.
According to Malakand Levies record, on December 9, 1987, the post commander of Palai had received information that a gang of proclaimed offenders from down district had crossed the Malakand agency border via Kohi Barmowal and was entering Palai for carrying out their criminal activities.
On receipt of the information, a raiding party was detailed by the post commander under the command of Naik Jehan Bakht, which rushed towards the area where presence of the proclaimed offenders was tipped. On sighting the Malakand Levies party, the POs started indiscriminate firing on the Levies personnel and fled to the nearby hill.
Jehan Bakht Shaheed chased the criminals and made a counter attack. In exchange of firing two of the proclaimed offenders were killed. Naik Jehan Bakht also received fatal bullet injury but was still chasing the criminals until he succeeded in arresting two of them. His injury was so fatal that he was rushed to the Lady Reading Hospital, Peshawar where he succumbed to his injuries.
In the light of his gallantry and heroic deed the then president of Pakistan Ghulam Ishaq Khan awarded Tamgha-e-Shujaat (Posthumous) to the widow of Jehan Bakht Shaheed.
REGULARIZATION OF
MALAKAND LEVIES
The Levy personnel were not entitled to pension benefits till 1970-71 when the then government announced regularization of the Levy force. Pensionary benefits were allowed only to in-service personnel while about one thousand different ranking employees were deprived of the same benefits. They were paid gratuity of Rs. 350 each only and nothing more.
The entitlement of the remaining employees for pension was made after lengthy discussions that were held between the high ups and a group of retired employees of Malakand Levies, headed by Subedar Major (Retd) Mir Dad Khan of Haryankot and Naib Subedar Alhaj Mohammad Khan of Dheri Alladand.
Both these retired Levies men had gathered some of their other retired colleagues and had started united endeavours for getting the demand of pensionary benefits for the retired employees of Malakand Levies met by the government. They pursued the former presidents and prime ministers of the country one after another, including General Mohammad Ziaul Haq, Waseem Sajjad, Benazir Bhutto, Mian Nawaz Sharif and other high officials in the provincial as well as federal government and apprised them of the pathetic condition in which these retired levies men were living. Subedar Major (Retd) Major Mir Dad Khan of Haryankot village and Naib Subedar (Retd) Alhaj Mohammad Khan of Dheri Alladand had devoted their lives to the cause of getting pension for those retired employees who were not allowed the same benefits after the government announced regularization of the Malakand Levies. These remaining employees were about 1000 in number some of whom had died and their widows were living in a very miserable condition.
It has been learnt that several times these employees had resorted to protest demonstrations and press conferences. Once they gathered in front of the Peshawar Press Club and had put their demand before the journalists of the province.
Former President of Pakistan Waseem Sajjad in his tenure approved pension to a few hundreds of the retired employees but still leaving many without pension. Mir Dad Khan, Alhaj Mohammad Khan and their colleagues were not satisfied with the same concession and continued their struggle.
During the second tenure of Ms Benazir Bhutto as prime minister, the Levies retired employees took their demand to her again through the then Federal Minister Mohammad Hanif Khan (late) and apprised her of their problem. She directed for revision of the case and ultimately the SAFRON agreed to accept the demand of granting pension to all the remaining employees of the Malakand Levies.
Both the above-mentioned personalities have died many years ago but their efforts are remembered even today as most of the retired employees and their offspring are alive and are getting pensionary benefits.
PRESENT POSITION OF
MALAKAND LEVIES
The Malakand Levies is working under the administrative control of SAFRON Division, Government of Pakistan. The Commandant of Malakand Levies is the commanding officer of 1325 strong force while the Subedar Major is the second high-ranking officer after the commandant. 10 Subedars, 23 Naib Subedars, 37 Havaldars, 39 Naiks, 60 Lance Naiks, 1040 sepoys and constables constitute the force.
When the strength of Levies was sanctioned in the first instance, the pay of a sepoy was Rs. 9 per month. It was increased to Rs. 121 per month later. After World War II, Rs. 11 per month were also sanctioned as clothing allowance.
Unlike Khasadars in other agencies, Malakand Levies are more disciplined and have rounded up a large number of criminals, dacoits and car lifters. At the moment, the salaries of the Malakand Levies personnel are very meagre and pathetic, despite the fact that they perform multi-faceted duties all the time.
A levy sepoy on his recruitment is given a maximum salary of about Rs. 1800 per month, which is a joke in the area according to the present day requirements. They are also not given basic allowances as are given to the other Para Military and civil armed forces.
The present ranks and pay scales of the Malakand Levies personnel are appended below. A cursory look at these leaves much to be desired.
S.No. Name of posts No. of posts Existing pay scale
1. Subedar Major 1 BPS-7
2. Subedar 10 BPS-5
3. Naib Subedar 23 BPS-4
4. Havildar 39 BPS-1
5. Naiks 41 BPS-1
6. Lance Naiks 60 BPS-1
7. Sepoys 1064 BPS-1
8. Followers 59 BPS-1
9. Constables 16 BPS-1
10. Assistant 1 BPS-11
11. Senior Clerk 2 BPS-7
12. Junior Clerk 4 BPS-5
13. Pesh Imam 1 BPS-1
14. Ikhlasi 2 BPS-1
15. Armourer 2 BPS-1
TOTAL 1325
DUTIES OF MALAKAND
LEVIES
The Malakand Levies personnel perform duties and functions similar to those of the police elsewhere. Their duties and functions, in the main, include the following:-
1. Maintaining law and order in the area.
2. Escort/guard/protocol.
3. Traffic control.
4. Guarding of government buildings, installations and communication routes.
5. Registration of cases and prosecution.
6. To assist the department officials in recovery of government dues.
7. To help in the execution of court cases.
8. Transportation of prisoners within and outside the district.
9. Verification of the general public and government employees.
10. Maintaining Judicial lock up at Malakand.
11. Control of poppy cultivation in the area and check on narcotics movement.
12. Control of smuggling of narcotics, timber and other contraband items.
The Malakand Levies with very limited resources has always tried to achieve all its assignments as specified in the above lines. But in dealing with these assignments the Levy force is confronted with too much political pressure, which always intercepts the process of law and routine administrative matters. Such practice needs to be curtailed through various administrative, legislative and legal measures with emphasis on re-organisation of the force.
There is a general complication while dealing with Malakand Agency/Malakand District. This area had been called an agency while it was included in PATA, with all courts working under Civil Courts Ordinance and Session Judges and ultimately with an elected Local District Government Ordinance 2001. SAFRON Division, Islamabad, financially controls the Malakand Levies. The district administration is responsible to the provincial government, whereas Levies working under an un-cleared administration of SAFRON+ District government and provincial government. These anomalies need to be considered at appropriate level so that a single source of inspiration is provided to the force.
During the last few decades no proper attention had been paid to provide necessary facilities to the Malakand Levies, which has adversely affected its working and efficiency. Due to lack of proper accommodation for the Levies posts, transport, office equipment, stationary, riot control equipment, adequate wireless communication system, uniform and pay and allowances, the force is drastically handicapped to perform its duties.
These personnel are deployed in 14 Levy thanas (Levy Posts) within the Malakand District. Presently 10 of these thanas (Levy Posts) have been established at 10 villages in the Swat Ranizai Tehsil i.e. Batkhela Tehsil. These are:
1.Batkhela.
2.Aalladand.
3.PulChawki
4.Thana
5.Khar
6.Qalangi
7.Agra
8.Kot
9.Palai
10. Malakand Khas
The posts, which have been established at Sam Ranizai Tehsil or Dargai Tehsil, are:
1. Dragai
2. Sakhakot
3. Kopar and
4. Qaidabad.
There are two separate Levy Chawkis at Wazirabad and Garhi Usmani Khel of Dargai tehsil in addition to the existing Levy Posts.
There are also 18 Levy Check posts namely:
1. Pul Chawki.
2. Malakand.
3. Dargai.
4. Cherat.
5. Qalangi.
6. Trai.
7. Kuchyan.
8. Qaidabad.
9. Brah Ghakhey.
10.Kot.
11. Musa Mena.
12. Hari Chand.
13. Shingrai.
14. Saidabad.
15. Khado Pul.
16. Ghundo.
17. Ghawar Killi Khwar.
18. Wazirabad.
In each Levy thana a post commander is stationed along with a force of about one hundred Sepoys, an Additional Post Commander, 3 Investigative Head Constables, 3 Hawaldars and a Muharrir along with two Mudad Muharrirs. In some of the most sensitive posts, additional staff has been deployed. The main functions of the Malakand Levies include routine patrolling, vehicle checking, traffic control, registration and investigation of cases etc.
There is also a Traffic Wing in the Malakand Levies and a Traffic Subedar each at Batkhela and Dargai tehsils have been assigned the task of keeping smooth flow of traffic throughout Malakand District. Both these traffic Subedars are assisted by four Traffic Head Constables at Batkhela and three at Dargai. The total staff along with sepoys at both the towns in the traffic wing is 36 and 22 respectively.
Twenty seven sepoys along with a Subedar are stationed at Jabban Power House and 31 at Dargai Power House for security of these sensitive installations. Moreover, scores of Levy Jawans have been deputed to the local Telecom offices, offices and residences of the judicial community and some important official premises. Some have been deputed to keep watch on the irrigation projects like Amandara Head Works and AT Works at Batkhela. A dozen Levy men are stationed at Benton Tunnel at Khar and Irrigation Quarters at Dargai.
There are many areas where Levy Pattaks have been installed to block the way of smugglers during night times and also to check vehicles plying at night. The main Pattaks are installed at:
1. Dargai
2. Pul Chawki
3. Cherat
4. Thana
5. Dheri Alladand
6. Ghawar Kaley
7. Khadoo
8. Sengrai
9. Khushal Ghar
10. Harichand
11. Musa Mena
12. Kot
13. Trai and
14. Qalangi
On these pattaks, a maximum number of seven and minimum of four Levy men are performing duty round the clock in shifts.
At headquarters in Malakand, a Subedar Major, a Subedar Headquarter , two Quarter Masters, 2 Bank Guards, an Adjutant, one Hawaldar Major, five Inspectors, two tear gas experts attached with the Adjutant and about 80 sepoys are performing duty. Scores of Levy men along with two to three officers are also performing duties at the Malakand Jail where they are assigned the duty to look after the prisoners and other jail inmates.
Soon after the devolution plan was introduced and district government established in Malakand, modernization and strengthening of the Malakand Levies was greatly felt. A proposal to covert the Malakand Levies into police force was opposed tooth and nail by every inhabitant of the area. Consequently the government decided to strengthen and modernize the Malakand Levies force on the same pattern within the category of Malakand Police.
For this purpose, Lt.- Col. (Retd) Said Rasool was appointed as the first commandant in November 2002. Lt.- Col. (Retd) Said Rasool is a retired army officer with wide command and staff experience. After assuming his new duty, Lt.- Col. (Retd) Said Rasool has devised a planned strategy for strengthening and modernizing the Malakand Levies. It is his inherent desire to convert the Malakand Levies into a disciplined and hand-hitting para-military force that could play its due role in maintaining an exemplary law and order situation in Malakand. He has held a series of meetings with the district, provincial and federal high ups for solution of the existing problems of the Levy personnel.
He genuinely wishes that the Malakand Levies should have the same monetary benefits as are available to the other Civil Armed Forces, since the overall duties performed by the Levies, are in no way less hazardous and multi-faceted than others.
COMMANDANT MALAKAND LEVIES SAJID ALI KHAN
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