Malakand district has witnessed a steady and alarming deterioration in law and order over the past several years. What was once a stable region is now plagued by repeated incidents of targeted killings, unresolved murders, armed intimidation, and extortion.

Regional peace has been further shattered by firing over homes, motorbike snatching, and rampant street crime. Perhaps most concerning is the unchecked prevalence of narcotics, particularly Ice (methamphetamine), and the brazen movement of criminal elements, including terrorists. These developments have severely eroded public trust in the state’s ability to protect lives and property.

At the heart of this deepening security vacuum lies a fundamental and long-standing structural flaw: the continued reliance on the Levies Force and the conflation of policing functions with district administration. Placed under the command of the Deputy Commissioner rather than trained and experienced police professionals, the Levies were never designed to meet modern law-and-order challenges.

As a result, they lack the operational capacity, investigative skills, command structure, and accountability mechanisms required to respond effectively to the district’s increasingly complex security environment. This situation demands an urgent policy reassessment and, ultimately, the replacement of the Levies with a professional, accountable police force.

The failures of the Levies in Malakand are neither occasional nor accidental; they represent a consistent pattern. Rather than acting as a deterrent, the force’s inaction has normalised lawlessness. Dozens of........

© The Friday Times