Lahore, Mar. 27 : Female commandos of Pakistan's Elite Force have alleged that their administrative staff is forcing them to work in place of their male colleagues, who are often on vacation.

The female commandos said that the moharrars (administrative staff), who were bribed by male commandos for showing them on duty, deputed female commandos for VVIP security, motorcades, escorts, point duties and patrolling despite the legal provisions.

The Elite Force was established to provide security to VVIPs, and to arrest terrorists, kidnappers and other high-profile criminals. Out of 666 Elite Commandos, 22 are females.

Currently, six female commandos are deputed with a VVIP man's wife, five are on medical leave and one is a sportswoman.

Usually male commandos were deployed with motorcades and to provide escort to VVIPs, and female commandos often served duties with female VIPs.

However, lady commandos told the Daily Times that Elite Force in-charge was compelling them to serve sensitive duties.

A female commando said she and her lady colleagues were assigned duties with the motorcade of Kharasan-e-Razdi (Iranian province) Governor Muhammad Jawad Mohammadi Zadey when he visited Lahore in January.

Another lady commando claimed that she had been assigned patrolling duties on the route of the Sri Lankan cricket team just a day before the Liberty incident.

"On the first day of the match, female commandos were told to patrol inside the stadium. Six of my colleagues also remained on stand by for two days at the hotel where the cricket team was staying, so that they could accompany the Sri Lankan team to the stadium," she said.

Lahore Elite Force In-charge Inspector Faisal Yousaf denied the allegation that female commandos were being deployed without their consent or against the rules.

However, he admitted that female commandos were assigned security duties with VVIPs only if male commandos were not available.

Elite Force Deputy Superintendent of Police Haji Abbas said, "As there was no difference in the training of male and female commandos, both can perform duties alike." (ANI)