KARACHI, May 13: Faizur Rehman was the second driver of the Edhi ambulance service who was killed in the line of duty, said an official of the Edhi Trust.

“He was second driver who was killed in an attack during violent situations in the city. Our first ever driver had been martyred in similar circumstances four years ago,” Anwer Kazmi, Edhi Trust’s spokesman told Dawn.

According to him, more than one dozen Edhi Ambulance service drivers suffer attacks every year. “They are soft targets of the attackers in such situations despite the fact that they risk their lives to help the dead and wounded,” said Mr Kazmi. During the last six years, he said, 80 drivers of Edhi ambulance service were attacked and injured.

Edhi’s ambulances and staff have always been allowed to work in the most precarious situations but it started in 2001 when angry mobs started attacking them as specific target.

“In most of the attacks, the attackers also beat up and injured our drivers. But, it was first time in 2003 when a mob killed one of our drivers when the city was observing a strike. We have to suffer the loss of another dedicated worker today,” he said, adding, the attackers damaged at least seven of the 125 Edhi ambulances on Saturday.

According to figures compiled by the private charity’s officials, as many as 112 ambulances had been attacked since 2001 while most attacks were recorded in May 2004 when most of the high-profile terrorism acts were recorded in the history of the metropolis.

“On average around 20 Edhi Ambulances are attacked every year. In 2004, more than 30 of our vehicles were attacked, most of them in May,” said Rizwan Edhi, the charity’s chief volunteer.

He said, “We were seldom attacked in the mid-1990s when the city had witnessed the worst law and order situation, but now it is becoming too risky.”

Mr Kazmi referred to Abdus Sattar Edhi, the head of the charity, as saying, “We’ll not stop our service till a single ambulance left with us to serve the people.”