Daily Times

PESHAWAR: Khyber Pakhtunkhwa Police commemorated its third Youm-e-Shuhada-e-Police on Thursday with the reiteration that it would continue the fight against terrorism.

Khyber Pakhtunkhwa Governor Iqbal Zafar Jhagra, KP Assembly Speaker Asad Qaiser, KP Inspector General of Police (IGP) Salahudin Mehsud, provincial ministers, family members of martyrs, a number of serving and retired police officials, politicians, journalists and artists attended the event held at Nishtar Hall Peshawar.

In his opening remarks, Counter Terrorism Department (CTD) Deputy Inspector General (DIG) Mubarak Zeb Khan praised the unmatched sacrifices of 1,361 officers and policemen, who had laid down their lives in the fight against terrorism since 2000. The IGP, Additional IGs and DIGs presented bouquets to the family members of the martyrs.

Governor Iqbal Zafar Jhagra and Asad Qaiser laid flowers on symbolic graves of Shuhada with photographs of at least 40 martyred policemen in the background.

Renowned Pashto singers Hashmat Sahar, Bakhtiyar Khattak, Sitara Younis and others paid rich tribute to police martyrs and victims of terrorism. DIG Fasihuddin Khan gave brief accounts of the four martyrs of KP Police who wrote new chapters of bravery in defending the motherland.

Former IGP Dil Jan Khan presented a bouquet to the son of Sub-Inspector (SI) Ishrat Yar Khan Shaheed who embraced martyrdom after killing a terrorist commander in Mardan during an operation.

Ex-federal minister Ghulam Ahmad Bilour presented a bouquet to the brother of Assistant Sub-Inspector (ASI) Sajjad Khan Shaheed, who embraced martyrdom in April 2011 when he attacked terrorists preparing to launch an attack at Awami Market in Hayatabad.

Similarly, Afzal Khan, the son of ASI Khaista Gul Khan Shaheed received bouquet from ex-IGP Abbas Khan.

Khaista Gul Khan embraced martyrdom when terrorists, including a suicide attacker, tried to force their way into the Judicial Complex Peshawar in a bid to free their comrades. The ASI caught hold of the suicide attacker at the entrance of the complex.

Yasir Khan embraced martyrdom in a targeted attack by terrorists. The injured constable, who had received several bullets to his chest, reached for his rifle and killed three out of four terrorists before losing his life on his way to hospital. ASI Waqas Khan, the son of a martyred police official, delivered an emotional speech at the ceremony.

City Superintendent of Police (SP) Kokab Farooq paid tribute to policemen who sustained life-threatening injuries in the fight against terrorists.

Kashish Amir Nawaz, the 12-year-old daughter of Shaheed police officer Amir Nawaz, thanked the people for the love and support extended to her after the martyrdom of her father. “I warn terrorists that they cannot dare threaten our peace and freedom as long as the brave personnel of KP police are alive,” a bold and brave Kashish said to deafening applause that lasted more then three minutes.

Published in Daily Times, August 5^th 2017.