Women officers to police tribal areas for first time in Pakistan’s history

In this file photo, female Pakistani police officers march at the police academy in Islamabad on Aug. 8, 2009. Chief Minister Mahmood Khan issued directives on Thursday for the appointment of the first batch of women police officers in the Bajaur tribal district. (AFP)

• Move elicited a positive response from various sectors
• Initiative to ensure better security in the once lawless region, experts say

PESHAWAR: Largely viewed as a progressive step following the integration of the erstwhile FATA region with the Khyber Pakhtunkhwa (KP) province, Chief Minister Mahmood Khan issued directives on Thursday for the appointment of the first batch of women police officers in the Bajaur tribal district.
The move elicited a positive response from various sectors who said that the initiative would significantly contribute to ensuring better security in the once lawless region, officials and tribal people said.
“The chief minister of KP has been pleased to desire appointment of 20 female levies searchers in Bajaur District against vacant posts,” a notification issued by the Chief Minister Secretariat to the home and tribal affairs secretary, read
This is the first time in Pakistan’s history that women are being appointed in the Levies force in the tribal areas.
In May last year, President Mamnoon Hussain signed the 25th Constitutional Amendment Bill into law which was the final step toward the merger of the erstwhile FATA region with KP.
Before the bill had been signed by the president, it was approved by parliament and the KP Assembly.
The president had inked the bill at a special ceremony attended by the-then KP governor, head of FATA Reforms Committee, National Security Adviser, and other senior civil and military officials.
KP government Spokesman, Ajmal Wazir, told Arab News that the provincial government would take all possible measures to facilitate the tribal people, keeping in view their norms, culture, and traditions. “Yes, they are being appointed. And we have plans to gradually extend the female police force to entire tribal districts to help contribute to enhanced security,” he added.
When contacted, KP Inspector General (IG) police Salahuddin Mehsud, told Arab News that the women personnel would be recruited by KP police. “First, they (female levies force) will perform policing duties and then they will be inducted in the future,” the IG said. 
The notification added that in order to provide a better line of administrative management, the law and order department of the merged districts’ secretariat — along with auxiliary sections — would report to the home secretary and tribal affairs’ officials of the province.
Earlier, the department had to report to FATA’s additional chief secretary.
Noreen Saif, a female student from the South Waziristan tribal district who is currently studying L.L.B. Sharia Law in Islamabad, told Arab News that though it is happening for the first time in the chaotic-history of tribal areas, it would minimize the scale of security-related issues in the war-torn region.
“The tribal society is conservative, with its own dynamics and norms to deal with their issues according to the established tribal culture. But I hope the society will gradually get used to the new system, which will protect women’s rights to some extent,” she said, adding that rampant complaints of tribal people could now be addressed.
“Necessary action in light of direction of honorable chief minister may be taken as per rules/policy, under intimation of this secretariat,” the notification said, quoting the chief minister.
Rehmat Khan, additional inspector general (AIG) police (Retd), said that while women officers have proved to be helpful in stabilizing the law and order situation elsewhere in the country, the decision to induct them in tribal areas had been taken in haste.
“This is a premature decision and the tribal masses will not view it a positive development because they are not used to the police system. First, the government should properly deploy the police force throughout the militancy-plagued region and then gradually induct them,” Khan said. 
Hajji Dil Nawaz, a tribal elder from the North Waziristan tribal district, said that the move is a good step. “Sometimes, there are problems if male security personnel carry out search operations because of our tradition but the induction of female officers will help tackle the problem,” Nawaz said. 
Samina Khan, another female student from the tribal areas who is studying BS Political Science in Islamabad, lauded the initiative, even as she suggested that women personnel should be gradually extended to the rest of the newly-merged districts. 
“In the long-run, the deployment of police force will help address women’s issues in the tribal districts,” she said.