LANDI KOTAL: The political administration has introduced biometric attendance system in Jamrud subdivision to ensure timely presence of more than 500 Khasadar and Levies personnelat their duty place.

Addressing a `Darbar` of Khasadar and Levies in Jamrud on Monday, Political Agent Khalid Mehmud said that the new system would improve efficiency of the tribal force and discourage truant officials.

He said that the system will also help in discouraging the practice of `proxy` khasadar, a terminology used for an ordinary tribesman performing duty as substitute for a regular ofHcialofthe tribalforce.

The political administration in April had issued notices to nearly 300 khasadars throughout the agency to report to their duty as they had not been performing duty for several years. They had deputed relatives and friends in their place.

Sources said that a large number of the absent khasadars had taken up lucrative jobs or adopted alternate professions while some of them had gone to Gulf States. They have been willfully abstaining from their official duties but regularly drawing their salaries. The political agent said that the `proxy` khasadars had adversely affected the performance of the efficient and dutiful personnel some of whom had also sacrificed their lives in war against terrorism and militancy.

Speaking on behalf of his force, Jamrud Khasadar Commander Noor Mohammad Afridi demanded of the political agent to provide free medical facilities to khasadars and their families. He also demanded allotment of official vehicles to them for performing duty and promotion of senior and deserving khasadars with immediate suspension of all `unlawful shoulder promotions` awarded to undeserving and junior officials.

The political agent assured the khasadars that all their genuine demands would be fulfilled as he was aware of the problems faced by them. He said that the biometric attendance system would be extended to Bara and Landi Kotal in due course of time.

He said that biometric machines would be installed at all the checkposts and tehsil offices to ensure that every Khasadar and Levies official put his fingerprints on the machine.

Mr Mehmud also paid rich tributes to the both Levies and Khasadar personnel, who rendered sacrifices while fighting against militants and terrorists.