TAXILA: Attock police on Tuesday organised a memorial ceremony at police lines to mark Police Martyrs Day where speakers paid tributes to those who lost their lives in the line of duty.

They lauded the role of the Attock police for their services to the nation.

While paying glowing tributes to the fallen cops, chief guest Air Commodore of Pakistan Aeronautical Complex (PAC) Kamra Jahanzeb Khan said that the martyrs had written a history of bravery and courage with their blood.

“The martyrs sacrificed their lives for the nation and to protect its freedom,” he added. He presented a salute to the parents of the martyrs.

Speaking on this occasion, Punjab Public Accounts Committee Chairman Syed Yawar Abbas Bokhari said the nation could not ignore the sacrifices of police martyrs, “who are our heroes”.

He said the martyrs’ families would be given facilities as given to the martyrs of armed forces as police also played a vital role in curbing terrorism and maintaining law and order in the country.

He said the PTI government was considering issuing health cards to all police personnel.

Besides, negotiations are under way with private schools for allocation of seats for children of police personnel, he added.

Speaking on this occasion, District Police Officer (DPO) Ali Akbar said the purpose of this ceremony was to pay homage to police martyrs.

“Despite facing difficult situations and having limited resources, police have played an exemplary role in establishing peace and protecting people’s lives,” he said.

He said several policemen, who had been injured in the line of duty, were not living a normal life.

He said 1,462 of the Punjab police were martyred in the war against terrorism. The DPO said they owed their peaceful life to police martyrs.

Addressing on the occasion, the mother of DSP Shaukat Shah Shaheed delivered an emotional speech.

She said she was proud of being the mother of a police martyr. Audience was deeply moved by her speech.

She said that she was not only the mother of Shaukat Shah, but the mother of entire Punjab police.

Later, gifts and flower wreaths were given to the children and relatives of the martyrs.

They also shared anecdotes about the lives of their loved ones with the participants.

Earlier, flower wreaths were also placed on the Yadgar-i-Shuhada by chief guest Air Commodore Jahanzeb Khan as well as senior police officers.

Published in Dawn, August 7th, 2019