ISLAMABAD: With the advent of war on terror and the subsequent military offensives in tribal areas bordering with Afghanistan to eradicate the menace of terrorism, the role of Frontier Constabulary (FC) have drastically changed. The pivotal function of FC was to police the border between the settled areas of Khyber Pakhtunkhwa and tribal areas against tribal incursions and criminal gangs operating across the border.
Owing to the prevalent reign of terrorism, militancy, belligerency and deteriorating law & order situation in the country, FC has been entrusted with numerous multifarious and multidimensional tasks in addition to its cardinal function.
FC’s duties include supporting law enforcement agencies (LEAs) in controlling law and order situation and providing security to diplomats, vital government installations, VVIPs/VIPs, multi-national companies (MNCs) and hydro-power projects (HPPs).
However, despite the fact that the role of the force had changed altogether since the launch of war against terrorism, the FC remained one of the less-paid force in the country. The former interior minister Chaudhry Nisar Ahmed, during the Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf’s (PTI) plan to lockdown Islamabad, promised to bring the FC salary at par with Islamabad police; however, they have yet to get the promised pay raise.
A senior official wishing anonymity told Pakistan Today that FC personnel are fit to deploy anywhere in the country and even hundreds of their colleagues embraced martyrdom in the line of their duties, but unfortunately their sacrifices never being recognized in true sense.
He said that though the FC personnel were performing multiple duties since the advent of war on terror that completely changed the force because additional duties assigned to FC; however instead of giving them extra perks and privileges, they were deprived of the allowances being given during their deployment in Punjab and federal capital.
The official lamented that since 2010, the FC personnel were not being given any allowance during their deployment in Islamabad and Punjab, adding that they were only given allowances when they were deployed in Karachi or Gilgit Baltistan.
The official said that the government did not sincere in increasing the pay of the force, but the then interior minister made the announcement just to boost the morale of the force to foil PTI’s bid to locking the federal capital.
Frontier Constabulary (FC) is a federal paramilitary police force and is commanded by senior police officers, which is largely drawn from KP province, but operates in all the provinces, as federal government is empowered to deploy Frontier Constabulary in any part of the country for better protection and administration of those areas.
Frontier Constabulary was created by amalgamating Border Military Police (BMP) and Samana Rifles (SR) in 1913. Both of the forces were guarding the border between the then settled areas of NWFP and Tribal areas. FC’s main function is to police the border of KP and the Tribal areas against tribal incursions, criminal gangs operating across the border and to check the smuggling of contraband items.
However, now, its original function has been overshadowed by an increasing involvement in the internal security duties and protection of vital installation as well as embassies. Another official said despite making tall claims that the salary of the FC personnel could not bring at par with Islamabad police, though meager increased had been made in their salary.
“Look at the duties honors of the FC personnel and the duty they are performing in challenging circumstances, the FC being paid the lowest paid force,” he rued. He said that the security personnel are even not given any medical and other allowances which were being given during their outstation deployment. Interior Ministry Spokesperson Yasir Shakeel could not be reached for his comments despite delaying story for one day, who did not respond to the repeated calls and WhatsApp messages.
It is pertinent to mention here that Ch Nisar had announced that salaries of the personnel of Frontier Constabulary would be increased by 50% to bring them at par with the pay package of Islamabad Police after June 30, 2017. Nisar said a constable of Islamabad Police takes home a monthly salary of Rs. 30,000 while the Jawans of FC gets just Rs. 17,000 per month.
Besides enhancing salaries, the FC personnel would also be given internal security duty allowance while service duration of FC personal would be increased from 35 to 45 years. It said salaries of FC personal are being increased in view of their meritorious services for internal security and maintaining law and order situation.
