LAHORE: “Let me go there and convince the chemists to end their demonstration on The Mall and clear the road for public,” were the last words Deputy Inspector General (DIG) Traffic retired Capt Syed Ahmed Mubeen said before he left his office for the fateful venue.

Senior Superintendent of Police (SSP) Operations Zahid Mahmood Gondal rushed to join DIG Mubeen and both lost their lives in the line of duty when a powerful explosion ripped through a demonstration by chemists on The Mall.

“Dedication to his work and honesty were the hallmark of DIG Mubeen’s life. He never skipped duty even under extreme situations. He could have sent any of his subordinates to the protesting chemists to negotiate with them. But his commitment towards his duty would not let him do so,” said a senior police officer.

Joining the 24th Police Common in 1996 after taking retirement from the army, Mubeen, 45, served mostly in Punjab and Balochistan. A native of Quetta, he served as Model Town superintendent of police, district police officer of Pakpattan and Kasur and Quetta DIG. He survived a suicide attack on Police Lines Quetta in 2013. DIG (Operations) Fayyaz Ahmed Sumbal was among the 30 killed in the blast.

“Mr Mubeen showed extra care for the family of Mr Sumbal after his death. His death is a great loss not only to his family, but also to those whom he was taking care of,” the officer said.

Recalling Mubeen’s honesty and dedication towards work, his close friend and Federal Investigation Agency Punjab Director Dr Usman Anwar said: “Mubeen was one of the best and most hardworking police officers I have ever known.”

During his tenure as Defence assistant superintendent of police, Mobin worked non-stop for a week to solve a kidnapping case of two children while he was running 104 temperature, Anwar said, adding that Mubeen was a very intelligent and sharp officer the police direly needed today. In Lahore, he lived in an official residence in the Cantonment.

DIG Mubeen was the son of known physician Dr Karar Hussain Zaidi. He has left behind a widow, three daughters and a three-year-old son. His elder daughter is an MBBS student.

Zahid Gondal, 43, was 32nd Commoner and joined police service in 2005. A native of Malakwal, Mandi Bahauddin, he also served as Rajanpur district police officer and VVIP Security SSP in Lahore.

“Mr Gondal was very kind-hearted and an honest police officer,” SSP Sarfraz Ahmed Falki said, who studied with him at the Government College Lahore. Losing officers like Mubeen and Gondal was a great loss to the nation and police force, he said. SSP Gondal has left behind a widow and two daughters.

The police officers Dawn spoke to urged the government to confer gallantry awards on the slain duo and ensure their families were taken care of.

Published in Dawn February 14th, 2017