Another brilliant and outstanding police officer of Khyber Pukhtunkhwa embraced martyrdom in the line of duty. Additional Inspector General (AIG) Ashraf Noor was martyred in suicide blast targeting his vehicle near Zarghoni Mosque in Phase 2 of Hayatabad Township, Peshawar. The suicide attacker on motorbike rammed into police vehicle, carrying the Assistant Inspector General and other police officials. They were on their way to work. At least six policemen were injured who were shifted to Hayatabad Medical Complex for treatment. Habib Ullah, a staff member of the AIG also embraced martyrdom.
KP police is a unique force which has rendered sacrifices from the rank of Constable to Inspector General. It has lost the precious gems of police. A few names are: Sifwat Ghaur, Malik Saad, Abid Ali, Khan Raziq, Gulfat Hussain, Rashid Khan Khursid Khan and now Ashraf Noor. One can not control his tears while describing their sacrifices for the service of the nation. In all 1200 hundred police officials have lost their lives in terrorist attacks. Police has been all along in the front of imminent threats but they have not been providing with vehicles which can ensure their safety from suicide bombers and rapid attack by the latest automatic weapons. It is for the political leadership to seriously think about the safety of policemen who are on guard, round the clock to serve the country and provide protection to the people.
The war in Afghanistan has direct fall out on KP being the frontline province. The terrorists of banned outfits easily cross the porous Pak- Afghan Border and after passing through FATA reach the settled areas for attacks on the targets of their choice. Police have arrested five alleged militants of TTP in Shabqadar and recovered 40 Kg of explosives, mortar shells, speaker magnet and IEDs. Officials of law enforcing agencies are particularly on their hit list. But the decision makers seem oblivious of it or deliberately ignore it as these government leaders always travel in bomb proof cars. Burying head in the sand like ostrich from the imminent threat does not provide safety from it. The National Action Plan has been put on the back burner. National Counter Terrorism Authority should be made fully operational. An effective mechanism for closer coordination between the federal and provincial governments should be put in place. Global terrorism will not end in the foreseeable future as Daesh has entered the war theater of Afghanistan. The United State is pursuing the military option in Afghanistan. Peace and stability may not return to this war torn country in the near future because instability in this region was the intention of the US all along. The political leadership should chalk out a comprehensive policy for internal security.
