KP police salute their 1,587 martyred cops

PESHAWAR: Chief Minister Parvez Khattak on Thursday said the Khyber Pakhtunkhwa Police has sacrificed the most for the restoration of peace in the country.

Addressing the Martyrs Day function late on Thursday at Nishtar Hall Khattak said the KP police is the bravest in the country that has played front line role in restoration of peace and countering terrorisms in Pakistan.

“We are proud of our martyrs who did their best to protect the life and property of a common man,” said Parvez Khattak. He said the province remained a target of the terrorism that has affected every sector of the province.

“When we were appointing Nasir Durrani as IG, he clearly told me he will take charge only if he will have the complete authority to run the affairs of the force. I accepted that instantly,” said Khattak.

He added that the force has reformed a lot during the last three years. “It is the best police of the country and will soon be the best in Asia,” said Chief minister.The chief minister said the KP government has given independence to the force and the officers are completely independent in running the affairs of the force. He said the PTI government has further reformed the force through Police Order 2016 that will further improve the performance of the force.

Khattak said the force is true professional and well trained to take on any challenge. He added that merit was ensured at all levels in the force.As many as 1587 policemen have lost lives in suicide attacks, bomb blasts, ambushes, encounters, rocket and mortar barrages and other incidents since 1970. Over 80 per cent of these cops were from constabulary, leaving behind kids and other family members at the mercy of others.

Chief Secretary Amjad Ali Khan while paying tribute to the KP police said the province remained a victim during the international terrorism but police and other law enforcement agencies sacrificed lives to restore peace. “We are here to pay tribute to the fallen heroes of the KP Police,” said Amjad Ali Khan.

“The Khyber Pakhutnkhwa police force is the bravest in the country and I feel proud to be heading it. The KP Police along with army and other law enforcement agencies has improve the law and order situation to a great extent in the last few years,” said Inspector general of police Khyber Pakhtun-khwa Nasir Khan Durrani. He said police in KP was no easy while keeping in view the situation in Fata and the absence of border management on border with Afghanistan. 

The force paid tributes to the fallen cops and those wounded through films on their lives and songs dedicated to their sacrifices. Tributes were also paid to the Ghazis who had defeated terrorists in various incidents. The program,however, was so lengthy that a large number of the participants had to leave for their homes. 

Durrani added that the force has recently been made accountable to the democratic institutions while several other reforms were made in the new police order. He added that the cops have been directed to be more friendly and polite in dealing any complainant. The IGP said action has been taken against over 4000 cops for misusing power and involvement in corruption.

The IGP said that six specialized schools, the counter terrorism department, the special combat unit, women commandos, dispute resolution councils, police assistance lines, police access service, female facilitation desk and modern reporting rooms were introduced in the police during the last couple of years.

“To take on the challenges of the present day, all the departments need to work together. We had launched CTD in 2014 that has improved the law and order to a great extent,” added IGP. He said the CTD has so far traced 600 cases and arrested 900 militants. 

The Martyrs Day was first observed all over the province last year that. The day is observed on the death anniversary of Safwat Ghayur, the most decorated and senior most cop, who fell victim to a suicide attack in Peshawar Saddar in 2010.

Earlier, Salutes were presented at the graves of the slain officers and junior officials in all the districts of the province early in morning. This was followed by recitation of Quran for the departed souls and for peace in the country. Blood donation camps were held in all the districts where policemen donated blood to save lives.

Strict security arrangements were made on the Martyrs Day to avoid any untoward incident.

During the last almost 46 years, one additional inspector general Safwat Ghayur, two deputy inspectors general of police Malik Mohammad Saad and Abid Ali, seven superintendents of police one assistant superintendent of police and 24 deputy superintendents of police 25 inspectors, 115 sub inspectors, 131 assistant sub inspectors, 148 head constables and 1133 constables have been killed in various kinds of attacks in the province.

The casualties recorded a sudden increase since 2005 when militants spilled over to the settled districts from Fata. As many as 1204 policemen were killed in attacks in KP since 2006. According to the data,  28 cops were killed in KP in 2006, 107 in 2007, 176 in 2008, 207 in 2009, 101 in 2010, 148 in 2011, 94 in 2012, 133 in 2013, 108 in 2014 and 60 cops were killed in attacks in 2015. As many as 42 policemen have so far been killed during the current year, till July 20.

Peshawar tops the list among the 25 districts of the province with over 340 casualties, followed by Swat, once a stronghold of militants where military operation had to be launched in 2009.

ABBOTTABAD: Rich tributes were paid to the policemen who sacrificed lives in the war against terrorism.Special prayer was held at the Police Lines mosque for the departed souls of the 11 policemen of Abbottabad district who died in the line of duty.

Blood donation camp in collaboration with Abbottonian Medical Association was held at police lines here in which a large number of   police personnel, educationists and others donated blood for children suffering from various blood diseases.

Similarly, functions in collaboration with educational institutions were also held. People from all walks of life participated in the events.

CHITRAL: A function was arranged in connection with Martyrs’ Week at the police lines here.Speaking on the occasion, District Nazim Maghfirat Shah said that the sacrifices of the cops maintained law and order in Khyber Pakhhunkhwa.He said that police force in Chitral was one of the best forces in the country.District Police Officer Iqbal Mohmand also spoke on the occasion.

KOHAT: Special prayers were offered and Quran Khwani held for the martyred policemen on Shuhada Day at Police Lines here.A large number of police officials and jawans paid tributes to the martyred cops.Later in the day, District Police Officer Muhammad Sohaib Ashraf visited the graves of former deputy inspector general of police Malik Muhammad Saad and Constable Adil Salahuddin.Meanwhile, hundreds of police officials and jawans donated blood at the blood donation camp at Kohat Development Authority Hospital.

TANK: A gathering arranged here to pay tributes to the cops.Speaking on the occasion, DPO Rasool Shah said that district police had been fighting on the frontline against terrorists for the last 10 years. He said that 21 cops were killed and several injured in the line of duty.

MINGORA: To remember the sacrifices of the martyred cops, police officials and jawans offered prayers as well as held Quran Khwani at Swat Police Lines. The police officials also donated blood as well as laid floral wreaths at the graves of the martyred cops.

CHARSADDA: Residents of the Baz Mian Killay held Quran Khwani and took out a peace rally in remembrance of the cops who laid down their lives to protect the citizens in the district against terrorists.

The participants of the peace rally were holding banners inscribed with pro-police slogans.

HANGU: Gifts were distributed among the relatives of the martyred cops to remember the slain cops on Shuhada Day at Hangu. The main event in this connection was organised at Hangu Police Lines.