Said Azeem’s dream of martyrdom comes true

PESHAWAR: “Said Azeem would be the first one to volunteer in any nerve-breaking operation, try out new weapon or go for any challenging position,” District Police Officer (DPO) Swabi, Sajjad Khan said as he praised the cop who was killed during a clash in Shewa the other day.
A picture of the police commando, Said Azeem, is circulating on the social media in which he is standing tall with a verse for the martyrs (Jab Tak Na Jalay deep shaheedon kay Lahu Say - Kehtay Hain kay Jannat main charaghan Nahin Hota) written on a wall in the background.
The picture speaks volumes for his eagerness for martyrdom like many other brave cops. His dream came true Tuesday night in a village in Swabi district.
“Rest in peace champ,” commented Firasat Nadeem on the picture of Said Azeem. “Our brother today offered his supreme sacrifice for the country. May Allah rest his soul in peace,” said Liaqat Ali, spokesman for Swabi Police.
Another post on the social media said: “He sacrificed his life for our tomorrow and will always be remembered in history.”A senior police officer, Mohammad Saeed Wazir, serving as Regional Police Officer Mardan, paid tribute to the cop through translation of a famous Pashto poem:
“With your dripping blood you have lighted
Lamps to light the way towards
The beloved’s cherished street
All the worldly crowns are worthless
Now before your stately state
On the knee of Laila lie now
Raving Majnoon’s tattered shirt!
I have brought no offering for you
Of a necklace of red flowers
For the nightingales of Heaven
Of what use are earthly flowers.”
A deputy superintendent of police (DSP), Fayyaz Khan, two inspectors and three cops were wounded in the clash with suspected militants in Shewa village of Swabi late Tuesday night. Among them was Said Azeem, who later succumbed to his injuries at a local hospital. The other wounded cops were shifted to the Lady Reading Hospital in Peshawar.
The encounter that took place in Swabi was one of the longest in the contemporary history that continued for almost seven hours. Commandoes from Mardan, Swabi and Peshawar had to be rushed to take part in the operation that was being led by RPO Mardan and DPO Swabi directly.
“He was a brave soul. He fought with extraordinary bravery during the operation and sacrificed his life,” recalled Sajjad Khan, who led the operation during which the police gunned down three militants, including one carrying head money of Rs2 million. A number of operations against the militants were carried out in Swabi during the last more than one year to clear the district that was turning out to be another Swat.
Said Azeem belonged to Babuzai village in Katlang tehsil of Mardan. His father is a retired army soldier.
“I met his father during his funeral and he proved to be a real patriot. So was his other brother. They were ready to render more sacrifices for the country,” said the DPO Swabi.
It was learnt that Said Azeem recently made a video along with his cousin while on way to Buner, in which he said this would be his last video before his martyrdom. “He once told one of his uncles that he would bring the national flag on his chest to make the family proud,” said a police official.
Many personnel of the KP Police have exhibited extraordinary bravery and offered supreme sacrifices to restore peace in the troubled province. Though there are black sheep in the force who are making money, misusing power and have connection with criminals, the image of the KP Police has improved in recent years as hundreds of cops sacrificed their lives.
“I am proud to be the commander of a brave force. The valour and courage exhibited by the Khyber Pakhtunkhwa Police will be remembered in history forever,” said Inspector General of Police Nasir Khan Durrani, who along with RPO Mardan Mohammad Saeed Wazir visited Swabi on Thursday to boost the morale of the force for fighting militancy.
He also visited the wounded cops at the LRH in Peshawar.Paying tribute to the martyred commando, the IGP also commended an officer who despite sustaining injuries refused to stay at the hospital and went back to participate in the encounter. The police chief announced “Shaheed Package” for the martyred cop Said Azeem as compensation and Rs200,000 each for those who sustained injuries in the Tuesday’s clash.