KARACHI: National Police Martyrs Day was observed across the country on Friday to pay tribute to the personnel who laid down their lives in the line of duty.

According to data recently compiled by the National Police Bureau, around 7,000 policemen died in the line of duty across the country over the past three decades.

In the wake of recent terrorist attacks on policemen across the country, the government had decided to observe the day to pay tribute to the sacrifices made by the personnel and their families.

In Karachi, Sindh Ins­pector General A.D. Khowaja inaugurated a monument at the Central Police Office (CPO) and another at the Abul Hasan Ispahani Road intersection where a traffic constable was shot dead last month.

Addressing a ceremony, he said the consistent threat to the lives of the policemen due to the war on terrorism demanded capacity building of the force on modern lines. Being actively engaged in the fight against crime and terrorism across the province had exposed them to increased threats, he said.

“We are also paying attention to equipping the force and updating its professional capacity to counter terrorism that the entire country is currently exposed to.”

Walks, rallies and Quran Khwani were held in all regional headquarters of Sindh police and a large number of personnel donated blood as a mark of their commitment with the profession, a Sindh police statement said.

Punjab police also organised various events and memorial ceremonies in several districts.

Lahore police organised a grand ceremony at Alhmara Hall that was attended by Punjab IG retired Capt Arif Nawaz Khan, Capital City Police Officer retired Capt Amin Wains and other senior police officers, families of martyred personnel and several parliamentarians.

The provincial police chief said it was a matter of great honour and pride for him to command a force that was a successor of more than 1,400 martyrs.

District and Sessions Judge Sohail Nasir and senior officials laid a floral wreath on a memorial at the police lines headquarters in Attock and a contingent of police presented a salute. The judge said policemen appeared in the courts in cases of terrorism despite threats to their lives.

Provincial Minister for Mines Chaudhry Sher Ali said the police, army and other law enforcement agencies had rendered many sacrifices along with the people of the province in the war against terrorism.

In Peshawar, a contingent of police presented guard of honour at the grave of Commandant of the Frontier Constabulary Safwat Ghayur at the University Town cemetery. He was martyred in a suicide attack on his vehicle on Aug 4, 2010. City police chief Mohammad Tahir Khan and SP Cantonment circle Imran Malik laid wreaths at the grave and offered prayers.

Khyber Pakhtunkhwa police chief Salahuddin Khan Mehsud and Commander Log area Peshawar Maj Gen Saleem Raza laid wreaths at the Martyrs’ Monument at the Malik Saad Shaheed police lines.

Main function of the day was held at the Nishtar Hall in Peshawar and was attended by KP governor Iqbal Zafar Jhagra and other senior officials. Martyrs Day was also observed in other districts of KP.

Speaking at a ceremony in Quetta, Governor of Balochistan Mohammad Khan Achakzai paid tribute to the bravery and courage of the martyrs of police force and said that their sacrifices had paved way for peace in the province.

Commander of Southern Command, Lt Gen Aamir Riaz and Inspector General of Balochistan Ahsan Mehmoob also spoke on the occasion

Published in Dawn, August 5th, 2017