Daily Times

Police Martyrs Day was observed on Saturday in the provincial metropolis where speakers paid tributes to all the cops who lost their lives in the line of duty.

A tribute was paid by the city police officials for nearly 305 policemen, who lost their lives over the past year. A Quran Khwani and special prayers were offered at the Police Lines Qila Gujjar Singh.

Special ceremonies to mark the day were held at all the police lines of the districts; all senior officers of the police, families and relatives of the martyred policemen attended. The day is aimed at remembering the sacrifices of martyrs and boosting the morale of policemen.

Speaking on the occasion, inspector general Punjab (IGP), capital city police officer (CCPO), deputy inspector general (DIG) operations, senior superintendent police (SSP) operations, Investigation Wing officers and others said that the history of Lahore police is full of gallantry and the sacrifices rendered by the department in the war against terror would be remembered for long.

They said the city police have performed duties on the front line in the war against terror in very testing times and destroyed nefarious designs of many enemies of peace.

They referred to the sacrifice rendered by senior officers including DIG Traffic Lahore Captain (r) Ahmed Mobeen, SSP Operations Zahid Gondal of Punjab police and others that set a great example of chivalry for police officers. They said it was the sacrifice of police officers that helped returned peace to the province.

IGP Dr Syed Kalim Imam has said that great nations never forget the sacrifices of their martyrs. He said that Punjab police will look after the families of their brave martyrs who lost their lives in the line of duty and that they will continue to take steps on priority basis for the families of the deceased.

He added that on the eve of Youm-e-Shuhada Police, 12,915 police institutions are observing Police Martyrs Day on the same day whose sole purpose is to pay homage to the brave sons of this land. He further said that police officers and the personnel are committed to saving lives and properties of the citizens.

On the eve of Youm-e-Shuhada, the senior police officers in all the districts of the province recited Fateha on the graves of the martyrs and went to their families for condolence. He expressed these views while speaking to media after he lit candles and left flowers on Yadgar-e-Shuhada at Police Lines Qila Gujjar Singh. CCPO Lahore BA Nasir, DIG operations Lahore Shahzad Akbar and Assistant Inspector General (Admin) Punjab Afzaal Ahmed Kausar and some other senior officers were present.

Youm-e-Shuhada Police formally begun after Fajr prayers at Police Lines Qila Gujjar Singh. While meeting the families and children of the martyrs, IG Punjab asked them if they are facing any sort of issue/problems. While taking to the families, IG Punjab told them that being the head of Punjab Police, it is his prime responsibility to solve their problems and that Punjab police will be with them in thick and thin. He said that the sacrifices of the martrys have elevated the morale of the whole police force and that the officers and officials of Punjab police will follow their footsteps to ensure the safety and security of the lives and properties of citizens.

Blood donation camps, awareness camps and walks were also held all over the province to pay tributes to the brave cops who were martyred in terrorist attacks, blasts and suicide bombings in recent years.

Following the directions of Inspector General National Highways & Motorway Police (NHMP) Muhammad Amir Zulfiqar Khan, DIG N-5 Central Zone Ahmad Arsalan Malik and SSP Masroor Alam Kolachi visited families of martyred officers of the force in order to show solidarity with them on the eve of Youm-e-Shuhada Police.

While SSP Ghulam Jafar paid visit to the martyred policemen’s families in Multan, SSP Chaudhry Atta did the same in Rahim Yar Khan. As per details, senior officers of NHMP presented special gifts to the families of martyrs.

“The families and dependents of martyred officers will always be looked after,” DIG Ahmed Arsalan Malik said on interacting with the families of the martyred officers. Floral wreaths were placed and prayers were offered at the graves of martyred officers.

NHMP IG Amir Zulfiqar Khan assured that it would be his first priority to look after the families of martyrs and his force would find him next to them in every testing time.

Published in Daily Times, August 5^th 2018.