Shaheed Package for first martyred cop in merged districts soon

PESHAWAR: The Khyber Pakhtunkhwa Police high-ups have taken up the case of the first policeman martyred in a terrorist attack in the newly merged districts for proper Shaheed Package like the cops in the settled areas. A cop Waqifullah was martyred while two soldiers were injured in two back-to-back blasts in the Salarzai tehsil of the Bajaur district on last Sunday.

Waqif was the first policeman who fell victim to a terrorist attack in the newly merged districts after absorption of Levies and Khasadars in the KP Police. He will also be the first one from the erstwhile Fata whose case is being processed for the Shaheed Package.

“His heirs will be recruited immediately while Shaheed Package will be processed for him without any loss of time,” Deputy Inspector General of Police, Malakand, Ijaz Ahmad, told The News. Bajaur is part of the Malakand Range after the merger of the erstwhile Fata into KP.

On Sunday, security forces and police were carrying out a joint search operation in Bajaur’s Salarzai tehsil when an explosion took place, injuring two soldiers, Naik Arshad and Sepoy Muhammad Zeb.

A second blast took place after a short interval in the same area in which a policeman, Waqifullah, was martyred. The martyred cop and injured soldiers were shifted to the District Headquarters Hospital in Khar.

Later, the funeral prayer for the police constable was offered in the Civil Colony in Khar that was attended by police, civil and military officials. The Levies and Khasadars were recently absorbed in the KP Police after it was approved by the provincial cabinet on January 23.

Initially, over 23,000 Levies and Khasadars were absorbed in the police in the wake of the cabinet decision. The rest of around 6,000 will be absorbed in the second phase. DIG Malakand, Ijaz Ahmad, on Tuesday visited the residence of constable Waqif and met his family members. The deceased is survived by six children, all below 10 years of age.

The locals demanded Shaheed Package for the heirs of the martyred cop without any delay. The DIG assured that the package had been recommended for the fallen cop for his bravery.