Govt considering abolishing BMP, Baloch Levies

DERA GHAZI KHAN: The provincial government is considering to abolish 130-year-old Border Military Police (BMP) as well as Baloch Levies (BL), working in the tribal areas of Rajanpur and Dera Ghazi Khan districts with the prime responsibility to maintain the law and order.

Sources said on the recommendations of a sub-committee of the cabinet, a high level committee had been constituted in this regard that would submit its report in seven days to the provincial government after which the final decision would be taken. They said that the committee comprised the commissioner, the regional police officer and the DPOs, political assistants and deputy commissioners of both districts. However, the tribal chiefs and elected representatives had not been included in the sub-committee. The committee would analyse the situation and submit findings about policing system in case of replacement.

The Border Military Police and Baloch Levies were formed to maintain the law and order during the British era in 1880. A number of posts were established in the remote locations. Some posts were also set up along the border of Balochistan. As per the policy matter and also to please the tribal chiefs, local tribesmen had also been recruited in the BMP and BL with selective quota for the then tribal chiefs.

There are five main tribes in Dera Ghazi Khan district and four in Rajanpur district. They are Buzdar, Qaisrani, Khosa, Lound, Leghari, Gurchani, Dareshak and Mazari tribes. Currently, the BMP and BL have been facing staff shortage due to ban on recruitment for the couple of years. The political assistants work as the heads of the BMP and BL in the two districts. The Border Military Police and Balochistan Levies staffers along with the tribesmen have expressed concern over the proposed abolishment.