LANDI KOTAL: As many as 4,500 youth from three subdivisions of Khyber Agency have submitted their applications for 187 new posts in Levies Force, which were re-advertised recently by the political administration after cancellation of previous appointments on the grounds of allegedirregularities.

Of ficials told Dawn that fresh applications were invited after Fata Secretariat received complaints from a number of candidates, who appeared in the previous screening test, about alleged `favouritism and nepotism in the selection of Levies recruits.

Some of the candidates contended that they were duly conveyed massages about their selection in the Levies Force by the officials of politi-cal administration but later they were never called for official duty despite repeated queries.

The administration conducted physical fitness and medical tests of thousands of interested candidates some eight months ago and made final selection as well. But the selection was challenged by most of the candidates, who claimed that they were denied their due right even after passing all tests.

Forty two rejected candidates had also moved Peshawar High Court, accusing the Khyber Agency political administration of `accepting bribes` from unqualified and undeserving candidates.

They had prayed the court toissue a stay order against the previous selection. Officials, however, denied these accusations.

The case is still pending before Peshawar High Court. Khyber Agency political administration invited fresh applications for 187 new post s on the advice of Fata Secretariat.

Officials said that although last date for the receipt of application was not yet decided, they had so far received about 4,500 applications which they were processing for final call.

The candidates applying for LeviesForce must be of 18 years of age and not exceeding 25 years with middle pass educational qualification, officials said. `We do not entertain any request about age relaxation and are also very keen about physical Etness of the candidates,` they added.

A fresh recruit in Levies Force is offered Rs15,000 as monthly salary in the start while the promotion process is very slow and criteria for promotion is vague.

Some Levies personnel confided to Dawn that in most cases the promotion was done on the recommendation of influential persons of the area instead of assessing their performance or seniority.

Requesting anonymity, they said that some of their colleagues were promoted on the basis of seniority in the year 2013 but the promotions were later reversed under pressure from some influential persons of the area and instead some of the undeserving colleagues were promoted to better grades out of turn. `We want our promotion should be done on the pattern of army,` they said.

They saidthatduringthe lastsixor seven years of service they were provided only once with a rifle, a jacket, a pair of shoes, a helmet and a pair of clothes.