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       QUETTA: Large numbers of Levies personnel on Thursday protested a government decision to merge their force with the Balochistan police, arguing the move is illegal and defies a court order.

       Personnel and officers from the tribal security force gathered in front of the Levies station in Chagai district’s Dalba-ndin, staging a protest and chanting slogans against the provincial government.

       They announced they would not join the police, saying a petition challenging the merger was pending in the Balochistan High Court.

       At a subsequent press conference, representatives of the protesting force criticised the government’s decision, calling it contempt of court and pointing to an existing stay order issued by the judiciary.

       “Those who don’t respect the court’s orders should not expect their directives to be followed either,” one of the protesting officers said, emphasising a commitment to resisting the merger through peaceful and legal means.

       The officials stressed that the Levies force represents a unique tribal security system with a historical background dating to the British colonial era.

       The Levies have played a vital role in maintaining peace and controlling crime in the region — a fact widely acknowledged by local tribes and communities, the officials said.

       Protesters also levelled allegations about the merger’s procedural integrity, claiming signatures approving the decision were obtained from a transferred assistant commissioner in the middle of the night.

       Highlighting the structural differences between the Levies and the police, the officials argued that no decision should have been made without first consulting their force.

       They demanded the government revoke the merger decision without delay.

       If the government is determined to dissolve the Levies, then it must offer legal benefits and compensate officers respectfully, the representatives urged.

       Published in Dawn, July 25th, 2025