SOME people write history with their blood. SP Muhammad Aslam Khan, popularly known as Chaudhry Aslam, was one of them.

“Just cried my heart out after hearing about the cowardly fatal attack on a police officer who stood up when the nation was hunkered down, unable to handle the threat from the cancer that continues to bleed our country,” wrote the son of a police officer, who saw his father combat terrorists and criminals for over four decades.

A human rights activist sent a condolence message. She said: “Our rulers should have a fraction of his courage to take on the militants.”

The TTP claimed responsibility for the attack that killed Chaudhry Aslam and two other policemen in Karachi. TTP Mohmand representative Ehsanullah Ehsan said the CID officer had been killed for targeting TTP men.

Some days ago, he must have been writhing after a 20-minute telephonic conversation with SP Aslam, when he found himself at the receiving end of some choicest expletives from an officer who was never shy about his language.

The most encouraging tribute was paid by the army chief, who lauded “the great services [rendered] to eliminate terrorism”, by SP Aslam and added that “the entire nation was united against terrorism”. A soldier understands what it means to die fighting for your country.

The young chairman of a political party tweeted: “The coward terrorists of TTP martyred my SP Chaudhry Muhammad Aslam.” The sentiments of a budding politician, who lost his mother at the hands of terrorists, resonate well with the feelings of the families of policemen and soldiers who have died combating terror.

The death of the valiant police officer will adversely affect the morale of the Sindh police, in particular the Karachi police. This dastardly act was carried out to dampen the spirits of thousands of policemen, civil armed forces and intelligence officials pursuing terrorists, target killers, extortionists and criminals in Karachi.

The methods of the Hazara-born man who joined Karachi police as an assistant sub-inspector 30 years ago and rose to rank of SP might have been crude but he had in him the zeal of a crusader against crime.

Chaudhry Aslam is among the nearly 150 policemen to have died since September 2013 when the ongoing operation in Karachi against criminals commenced. His heroic death should infuse a new resolve in all stakeholders who should ensure that Karachi is no more a safe haven for terrorists.

The operation has so far resulted in the arrest of thousands of suspects, of which some 350 are alleged to have been involved in targeted killings, kidnapping for ransom, terrorism, extortion, etc. More than 700 have been arrested for murder, robberies and other street crimes, while 366 proclaimed offenders and 3,500 court absconders have been apprehended.

So far the cases of some 6,000 accused have been sent to court. More than 4,000 criminals are in jail; 191 cases of 220 accused of acts of terror are pending trial in anti-terrorism courts. Police and Rangers have recovered three LMGs, seven rocket launchers, 86 Kalashnikovs, 2,724 pistols, 49 rifles, 92 shotguns, 146 bombs and hand grenades and 232kg of explosives material.

With the operation yielding results in terms of arrests, the real test lies in following up the cases in court. Witnesses must be protected and security provided to prosecutors and judges.

It is heartening to note that politicians and the civil society have condemned the killing of Karachi’s top anti-terror cop.

But they must move beyond condemnation and show real determination to confront terrorism by providing full support and resources to the law enforcement, security and intelligence agencies that are capable of putting in valiant efforts to eliminate religious militancy, including sectarianism, and extremism.

All elements of national power have to launch a concerted, well-coordinated strategy to meet the daunting challenge.

A revamping is needed of the police so that the frontline institution can fulfil the community’s expectations by bringing down the crime rate and maintaining order.

The police’s operational and tactical capacity to harness local knowledge and intelligence should be beefed up and their professionalism enhanced to apprehend and prosecute criminals involved and obtain convictions within the ambit of a criminal justice system that is just and humane.

The nation must recognise its heroes who willingly risk their lives. Chaudhry Aslam was one such hero who lived with courage and died with dignity. His supreme sacrifice should not go to waste.

The writer is a retired police officer