Targeted: Slain section officer laid to rest in Wazir Bagh

Safi was shot dead by unidentified gunmen while on was his way to a mosque in Sharifabad

PESHAWAR: The funeral prayers of slain section officer Nawab Safi were offered in Wazir Bagh in the city on Thursday. Later, he was laid to rest in a graveyard of the same area. He was killed by unidentified gunmen on Wednesday as he was heading to a mosque in Sharifabad within the jurisdiction of Yakatoot police station.

While speaking to The Express Tribune, a police official said Nawab Safi hailed from Safi Mohmand tribe and had served as an assistant political agent in South Waziristan Agency. He was currently working as a section officer in the Establishment Division in Peshawar.

Safi’s family told The Express Tribune he had four brothers and was the second youngest among them.

“His elder brother is a doctor, while two other and his father are cobblers.



His fifth brother, Iqbal, is a lawyer,” he said.

He added Nawab resided in a six-marla joint family house in Sharifabad. He and Iqbal were living there after purchasing the property from the other brothers.

“He was a self-made man as his father was a poor cobbler who supported their education with great difficulty.”  He further stated Nawab Safi served as assistant political officer in Ladha tehsil of South Waziristan.



Later, he was transferred to Nowshera and was working as section officer in the establishment department. He was the father of a three-year-old boy.

Meanwhile, the police believed this was a target killing. Two gunmen arrived at the site, opened fire and killed the victim with two gunshots. The counter-terrorism department registered an FIR and started an investigation.

Widespread condemnation

The Provincial Civil Services Officers Association strongly condemned Safi’s assassination. The association said he was a competent and courageous officer who fell victim to an act of abject terrorism.

A press release issued on Thursday stated PCS officers expressed their profound grief over the loss of one of the association’s finest officers. It added that he served the country with dignity and honour.

The PCS vowed to extend all possible support to the bereaved family.  The PCS officers association urged the government and law-enforcement agencies to arrest the perpetrators behind his murder and make an example out of them.

Published in The Express Tribune, June 24^th, 2016.