PHC orders home dept to rectify status of Levies and Khassadars

PESHAWAR: The Peshawar High Court (PHC) has directed the secretary Home and Tribal Affairs Department to rectify the record and ascertain the proper status of Levies and Khassadar force personnel whose services were repatriated.

Justice Ijaz Anwar and Justice Arshad Ali delivered the verdict. Nauman Muhib Kakakhel had filed the petitions on behalf of Khassadar Force Employees, Levies Employees and employees of Deputy Commissioner Mohmand.

The petitioners included Fahad Jan, Sher Khan and others. The cases were clubbed together and decided in the same judgment. The lawyers appearing for the petitioners argued that their clients were appointed as clerks in the Levies and Khassadar force and were promoted from time to time.

They argued that after the merger of ex-Fata with KP, the district police officer Mohmand took over Khassadar and Levies force, however, their services were to be governed by Khassadar Force Act, 2019 and Levies Force Act, 2019 whereas the status of employees of the Political Agent office was governed by Civil Servants Act.

The counsel argued that after the merger the employees were to be repatriated to their home departments but instead of sending a Khassadar as Khassadar to DPO Mohmand he was sent as Levies and Levies officials were sent as Khassadar and so much so civil servant employees of DC Mohmand were also send to DPO as Khassadar/ Levies.

The court after hearing arguments of the counsels of the petitioners ordered the secretary Home and Tribal Affairs Department to rectify the record and ascertain the status of the employees in accordance with the law.