Daily Times

Sir: Another dark chapter was added to the history of Pakistan on January 9. A brave SP CID Chaudhry Aslam has been martyred by the Tehreek-e-Taliban Pakistan in Karachi. It is another blow to Karachi’s Police. For the nation the loss is irreparable since very few devoted, morally astute and professional police officers are left. Only a fortnight ago my 21-year-old son told me with great excitement that he had seen SP CID Chaudhry Aslam. He was waiting for the bus near a local hospital when the convoy of SP CID passed by. He was as usual wearing white shalwar-qameez and was sitting next to the driver’s seat.

While narrating all this I found my son perturbed about the scale of security provided to the SP. Only two police mobiles were escorting Chaudhry Aslam. Whether it was bravery on the part of the SP, his indifference to the danger posed to him, or some conspiracy from within the police department that allowed him to become a soft target will be proved in the days to come. But losing a man like Chaudhry Aslam is a great loss for every member of the Karachi Police. My heart cried when I heard a Karachi policeman saying on television, with tears in his eyes, that he has become orphaned after the passing away of Chaudhry Aslam. We salute you SP CID for the protection you provided to the people of Karachi till your last breath.

M. RAFIQUE ZAKARIA

Via-e-mail