PESHAWAR: Chief Minister Mahmood Khan said here on Thursday that the Khyber Pakhtunkhwa police bravely fought terrorism on the front line and they were indebted to those who sacrificed their lives to give them an opportunity to breathe in a peaceful atmosphere.

He was speaking at a function arranged in Peshawar to mark the Police Martyrs Day, which was observed across the province.

The main event of the day in Peshawar was attended by the chief minister, chief secretary Shahzad Bangash, Inspector General of Police Moazzam Jah Ansari, lawmakers, ministers and other officials.

In his speech, the chief minister said he was really proud of stories of the KP police sacrifices.

“If anyone has fought bravely against terrorism in the province on the front line and challenged the terrorists, it is the Khyber Pakhtunkhwa police,” Mr Khan said.

Mahmood promises concrete steps to stop targeted killing of policemen

He said the performance of KP police was much better than the police force of other provinces. However, he said that despite their numerous sacrifices to establish peace in the province, targeted killings of police officers were taking place even today.

“We have to take concrete steps to stop the targeted killing of police and protect them against the unknown enemy,” he said.

Mahmood Khan announced that he would take all possible steps to resolve the issues faced by the heirs of the police martyrs and ensure the full implementation of the quota of police martyrs in the jobs.

On this occasion, the chief minister announced to make the monthly ration package of the police force equal to the ration package of police in Punjab.

He also distributed Rs10 million cheques among the heirs of police martyrs.

Moazzam Jah Ansari said on this occasion that about 2,000 police personnel lost their lives in the war on terror. He said that police personnel valiantly fought against the terror despite lacking specialised training, arms, equipment and other requirements for this war. He said that the KP police had turned into a role model force and now the responsibility of the merged districts had also fallen on their shoulders.

He said it was his priority to increase the compensation package for heirs of the martyrs.

Events were arranged across the province to pay homage to the sacrifices of the police martyrs in the war on terror.

The day started with Quran Khwani for the martyrs and later police officials throughout the province went to the graves of the martyrs to offer fateha and place floral wreaths.

In addition to this, blood donation camps were also arranged in the provincial capital and other areas of the province.

In Khyber district, an event was arranged at the Police Training Centre in Shah Kas, Jamrud, which was attended by additional inspector general of police Mohammad Ali Babakhel. He said that so far 106 police and former khasadar/levies had laid down their lives while fighting against militants in different parts of Khyber.

In Manshera, people from different walks of life took out a rally to mark the Police Martyrs Day. Led by district police officer Irfan Tariq therally’s participants marched through Kashmir Road. Different programmes were also held across the district to pay homage to the martyrs.

Similarly, tribute was paid to the martyred police officials in Shangla district. In this regard, the main event was held by at police lines, Alpuri.

In Lower Dir, main function was held at the Timergara police lines which was addressed by police and other officials. The families of police martyrs and area elders attended the function. The speakers paid homage to all the 57 police martyrs from Lower Dir.

In Kohat and Hangu districts, the officials donated blood while commissioner Javed Marwat inaugurated Shuhada Memorial at the Kohat Police Lines on Thursday.

Similar functions were also arranged in Bajaur, Battagram, Swat, Lakki Marwat, Dera Ismail Khan and other districts of the province.

Published in Dawn, August 5th, 2022