Protest Erupts in Qila Saifullah Against Merger of Levies Force into Police

Qila Saifullah:The **Pashtunkhwa Milli Awami Party (PkMAP)** held a **peaceful protest demonstration** in Qila Saifullah against the provincial government’s decision to merge the **Levies Force** into the **police department**. A large number of party leaders, workers, and local residents participated in the rally.

Protesters carried banners and chanted slogans such as *“No to Police Merger”* and *“Levies is Our Identity.”* They demanded that the government immediately withdraw its decision, calling it an attack on local traditions and administrative autonomy.

Addressing the gathering, **party leader Dara Khan Jogizai** said the Levies Force is a **trusted and community-based institution** that has played a vital role in maintaining law and order in tribal and rural areas for decades. He described the merger as **detrimental to peace, cultural identity, and local governance.**

Other speakers emphasized that instead of dissolving the Levies, the government should **strengthen the force** by providing more resources and training to enhance its efficiency.

In their concluding remarks, PkMAP leaders **Sardar Hayat Khan Mirzai**, **Jamal Khan Mandokhail**, and others warned that if the government did not reverse its decision, the **protest movement would expand across the province.**