| At least 50 Swat police personnel have been relieved of their duties for showing a “lack of courage” during the last year’s operation against pro-Taliban militants, District Police Officer (DPO) Waqif Khan told Daily Times on Thursday. “Prolonged absence from duty is another reason for their dismissal,” the DPO said. Waqif Khan said that around 200 policemen were on ‘French leave’ or unauthorised absence, 151 were absent from Sindh (River) Police Lines, Mingora, and 31 were absent from the Mingora Police Station. An official source said that policemen in Swat were taking leave to avoid any possible militant attack on them. “The relieved policemen were served several notices but they did not show up. Consequently, they were terminated,” the source said. “We can’t work on a low salary and that too when your life is at stake,” one of the dismissed policemen said on condition of anonymity. |