Orakzai tribe announces boycott of courts, polio vaccination

HANGU: The Khassadars and Levies force personnel in Orakzai district have refused to perform duty during the anti-polio drive, health officials said on Monday. DHO Dr Nawab Ali told reporters by telephone that polio vaccinators were working in the areas where there was no security threat. However, he said that the Khassadars and the Levies have refused to escort the vaccinators in the sensitive areas. The official said Khassadars and Levies officials wanted the government to merge their services into the police force.

Dr Meraj, an anti-polio campaign in-charge in lower Orakzai, confirmed the development, saying that the Khassadars and Levies personnel had refused to provide security to their 261 teams working in the sensitive areas.

Meanwhile, the Orakzai tribe also announced to boycott the anti-polio drive and the local courts until the Khassadar and Levies personnel were merged into the police force. The elders said that anyone violating the decision of the jirga would be fined Rs5 million.