Don’t Politicize Chitral Scouts

Having a glorious history of its own, Chitral Scouts is a force to reckon with. It represents the cross section of Chitral’s population. There is hardly found a family that does not have a representation in Chitral Scouts.

Hailing from Chitral and having served in Chitral Scouts for three years I can very confidently say that the entire force is professionally so sound that it stands head and shoulders above all other paramilitary forces of the Frontier Corps KPK. It would be a big fallacy to compare it with police force or border levies. At the same time we must not forget that being a paramilitary force commanded by the officers of Pakistan army, it has its own limitations as far as professional training and equipment is concerned. We cannot and should not compare it with the regular army vis-à-vis its combat worthiness.

It is extremely shocking to see this mighty force being politicized by some politicians of Chitral for their vested interest. They are misleading the public and playing to the gallery by addressing public gathering and arousing their sentiments against the force and its command.

Fighting against the enemy and embracing Shahadat or coming out victorious as Mujahid is part of the game and this is what a soldier is meant for. If our brave soldiers have laid down their lives while defending the frontiers of the country we must be proud of them instead of subjecting the command of Chitral Scouts to unwarranted criticism. Getting killed by the enemy bullet in the process of combat encounter does not reflect the incompetence or negligence of the command at all. When you face a formidable enemy it is bound to occur. We are proud of those valiant soldiers who have sacrificed their lives for the sake of their motherland and we salute them. We should raise memorial in recognition of their unprecedented sacrifice instead of grabbing the opportunity to fulfill our own political agenda.

I would advise those political leaders of Chitral who are agitating the public mind through their emotional outpourings to visit the bereaved families, console them, eulogize the bravery of the martyrs, share their grief and use their political clout to ensure that the government provides reasonable compensation to the bereaved families to secure the future of the widows, orphans and old parents. This is the best service they can render for them instead of rubbing salt into their wounds and wasting their energy for nothing.

In the end, my humble request to the people of Chitral is that they should not lose their cool and remain composed. They should not pay head to the tirades of certain political elements who have thought it an opportune moment to revive their lost political standing .-- Col (r) Ikram Ullah Khan, COMSATS University, Abbottabad.

Comment 1

I agree with Col Ikram Ullah Khan's point of view that Chitral Scouts should not be politicised. Infact no issue involving persons and individuals should be politicised for personal motives by any one.

However, I feel pointing out genuine problems with any organisation / institution is very much in line with the call of our moral obligations. Brushing muck under the carpet will rot the carpet one day as time tells us.

 Who can refute the fact that bulk of Chitral Scouts soldiers are kept on forced leave during most of their tenure, for whatever reasons. These soldiers mostly retire at a ripe age in their thirties without having seen much soldiering.

As head of the Pensioners Association, whenever I tried to interview these young retirees for post retirement jobs, I found them unwilling to take up laborious or even mildly demanding tasks, rather expecting free salary at home as per their grooming. This is the damage to the young generation being done in collateral terms.

Operational readiness and proving equal to the task are the least that can be expected of the armed forces including the Chitral Scouts on whom 80 percent of our budget is being spent.

All Chitralis love the Chitral Scouts. many young men are part of it and many of those not, are aspiring to be part of it. Older generation have their progenies as part of Chitral Scouts. Infact we all have stakes in the mighty Chitral scouts. We want it to prosper and flourish according to the expectations of the people of Chitral. -- Wg Cdr (r) Fardad Ali Shah, Chitral.

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