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Quetta: The first-ever female riot force has been formed in Pakistan’s southwestern Balochistan province to deal with public disorder, with a special focus on negotiating female protesters, the force’s top commander and several officers said.

Balochistan, Pakistan’s largest but most backward province on nearly every social indicator and home to a long-running separatist insurgency, currently has a police force of 36,000 male officers and more than 600 female officers.

But in response to cultural challenges from female protesters in the deeply conservative province, the first female Riot Control Unit (ARU) was formed last month. The unit’s 48 officers received special training in safety and security protocols during VIP events in the city, especially in controlling female protesters during rallies and protests.

Earlier this month, former Prime Minister Imran Khan was arrested in Islamabad, and his supporters launched protests across the country that turned violent in many cities, including Quetta, the capital of Balochistan province. One person died and dozens were injured.

“Peaceful protest is every citizen’s right, but in some cases, people anger protesters, including women,” Zarmina Imran, a platoon leader at the women’s ARU, told Arab News. “So we created this unit to negotiate and protect women during mass protests.”

She assured that the unit was not set up to “misbehave” or use tough tactics against female protesters, but to initiate peaceful negotiations to persuade them not to become violent and end the protests peacefully.

“To protect women, negotiate with them and address their issues, because as women, we can understand their issues better,” Imran explained.

Many in the new force are no strangers to the police force.

Irum Kakar, 28, a commando in the unit, said she was following in the footsteps of her older brother who served in the Quetta Anti-Terrorist Force (ATF) and was killed in a police line mosque One of more than 30 police officers killed in a type attack in August 2013.

“I have a passion because my brother was martyred in the police force. He was an ATF (Anti-Terrorist Force) commando. Looking up to him, it was my childhood dream,” Kakar told Arab News as he prepared Her safety gear, including body armor, riot shield, helmet and face mask, for a routine riot demonstration.

“In our family, all our brothers and sisters wanted to join the police force. When my brother was martyred, our enthusiasm was even higher, especially my mother’s.”

Kakar, who joins the police force in November 2022, recently completed a 45-day course to become part of the province’s first all-female ARU. She said her mother and other family members supported her enthusiasm for joining the police force.

“Now we are fully trained to suppress any violent protests and protect women protesters in Quetta,” she added.

Shazia Aman, 28, said her father and other family members who worked as security officials in Balochistan encouraged her to become a policewoman.

“Being a part of this department now I feel physically stronger because we are no longer sitting in an office, but [policewomen] Can face the situation outside,” the constable told Arab News. “In the current situation, if we walk with male officers, we will be stronger. ”

Deputy Superintendent of Police (DSP) Mohammad Hafiz, who led the Balochistan riot force as its commander, said the first batch of two platoons of female ARUs will be deployed in Quetta.

“We divided the female riot troops into two platoons and they were stationed at the Quetta level,” he told Arab News. “In other areas, recruits have been appointed and we are taking steps to train them like the girls here.”

Hafiz said the female officer felt “comfortable and safe” as part of the new force.

“Socially there is a negative perception of the police force as not being a safe career for girls, but now with young girls joining the force, that perception has come to an end.”