En route to work: Sub-inspector shot, injured in Faqirabad

Incidents targeting police personnel have spiked considerably in past months

PESHAWAR: A sub-inspector (SI) of Special Branch Hidayat Khan was shot and injured by unidentified men in Wazir Colony within the jurisdiction of Faqirabad police station in the city Saturday morning.

According to the police, Hidayat was a resident of Charsadda but had been living in Qazi Kalay, Faqirabad. He was on his way to the Peshawar High Court (PHC) when assailants opened fire on him. He was rushed to Lady Reading Hospital (LRH) where he is in critical condition.

Faqirabad ASP Wasim Riaz said the SI received three bullets when he was on his way to the high court where he had been deployed.

“Unidentified motorcyclists opened fire on him, leaving him critically injured,” he added.

On the rise

On July 14, a traffic constable was shot and injured in Bashirabad in the city in a similar manner.

Sher Ali was shot and injured near Tablighi Markaz when he was on his way home after completing his duty hours, SP Cantt Kashif Zulfiqar had told The Express Tribune. The police said he had a personal feud which the family denied. They said Ali had been targeted.

On June 19, gunmen killed a police constable identified as Gulzar in Garhi Sobat Khan area of the city. Gulzar was deployed at Khazana police station and was on his way home when assailants targeted him.

Similarly on June 16, SI Qayum Dad was killed in a road-side bomb blast that had targeted a police vehicle.

On May 10, another police constable was gunned down within the jurisdiction of Saro Shah police station of Mardan while a police check post was attacked in Michni Gate near Warsak Road.

Published in The Express Tribune, July 17^th, 2016.