Traffic cops question their frequent targetting
No one arrested yet for killing of three cops this year
No one arrested yet for killing of three cops this year. PHOTO: EXPRESS
KARACHI:
What wrong have we done to anyone? We are not even a part of the Karachi operation so who is killing us and why, questioned a colleague of the traffic cop shot dead in District Central on Sunday night.
Additional section officer of the traffic police for North Nazimabad, sub-inspector Muhammad Arshad, was shot dead late Sunday while on duty at Five Star Chowrangi in North Nazimabad within the limits of Sharae Noor Jahan police station. The deceased was shot twice - in the frot and back - and died shortly after the incident.
Traffic police constable gunned down in Peshawar
His body was sent to his hometown of Sheikhupura, Punjab where he was laid to rest. Posted at the North Nazimabad Traffic Section for the last six months, Arshad used to reside alone in the Ahsanabad area of the metropolis as his family was back home.
'Farmi anday'
"Who is killing us and why has become a mystery," stated Arshad's colleague, North Nazimabad section officer Amir Abbas, while talking to The Express Tribune. "I remember the days when youngsters in Karachi used to tease us by calling us 'farmi anday' [for their white uniforms resembling chickens at poultry farms]," he said, explaining the harmless nature of their job.
"He will remain alive in our hearts," said another colleague who did not want to be named. "They give us weapons to protect ourselves but in this area [North Nazimabad] there are only two personnel with weapons - one for KDA Chowrangi and one for Sakhi Hassan. Just think it how 'protected' we feel," he lamented.
Recurring attacks
This was the second attack on traffic cops in Karachi this year as earlier two traffic policemen were shot dead on May 21 while on duty at Ayesha Manzil.
Two traffic police officials gunned down in Karachi
In 2015, six traffic wardens were gunned down in separate attacks across the city. Not a single suspect in any of the killings has been arrested so far. Following the attacks, the Sindh government had issued bulletproof jackets and assault weapons, including AK-47s and MP-5s, to on-duty traffic policemen for self defence but the attacks continue. The number of jackets and weapons are also inadequate as can be seen on any traffic signal of the city.
Since 1992, 55 traffic cops have been killed in the line of duty, with 22 of them from road accidents and 33 killed in terror-related incidents, according to the city's traffic police.
FIR registered
On the other hand, an FIR (283/16) has been registered at the Counter-Terrorism Department under sections 302/34 read with Section 7 of the Anti-Terrorism Act, 1997.
Meanwhile, Sindh IG AD Khawaja appealed to the public to come forward to assist the police. "Once again, an innocent, unarmed traffic policeman was martyred,” he said in a statement.
He also announced a reward of Rs1 million for information leading to the arrest of the culprits.
Published in The Express Tribune, September 27th, 2016.
What wrong have we done to anyone? We are not even a part of the Karachi operation so who is killing us and why, questioned a colleague of the traffic cop shot dead in District Central on Sunday night.
Additional section officer of the traffic police for North Nazimabad, sub-inspector Muhammad Arshad, was shot dead late Sunday while on duty at Five Star Chowrangi in North Nazimabad within the limits of Sharae Noor Jahan police station. The deceased was shot twice - in the frot and back - and died shortly after the incident.
Traffic police constable gunned down in Peshawar
His body was sent to his hometown of Sheikhupura, Punjab where he was laid to rest. Posted at the North Nazimabad Traffic Section for the last six months, Arshad used to reside alone in the Ahsanabad area of the metropolis as his family was back home.
'Farmi anday'
"Who is killing us and why has become a mystery," stated Arshad's colleague, North Nazimabad section officer Amir Abbas, while talking to The Express Tribune. "I remember the days when youngsters in Karachi used to tease us by calling us 'farmi anday' [for their white uniforms resembling chickens at poultry farms]," he said, explaining the harmless nature of their job.
"He will remain alive in our hearts," said another colleague who did not want to be named. "They give us weapons to protect ourselves but in this area [North Nazimabad] there are only two personnel with weapons - one for KDA Chowrangi and one for Sakhi Hassan. Just think it how 'protected' we feel," he lamented.
Recurring attacks
This was the second attack on traffic cops in Karachi this year as earlier two traffic policemen were shot dead on May 21 while on duty at Ayesha Manzil.
Two traffic police officials gunned down in Karachi
In 2015, six traffic wardens were gunned down in separate attacks across the city. Not a single suspect in any of the killings has been arrested so far. Following the attacks, the Sindh government had issued bulletproof jackets and assault weapons, including AK-47s and MP-5s, to on-duty traffic policemen for self defence but the attacks continue. The number of jackets and weapons are also inadequate as can be seen on any traffic signal of the city.
Since 1992, 55 traffic cops have been killed in the line of duty, with 22 of them from road accidents and 33 killed in terror-related incidents, according to the city's traffic police.
FIR registered
On the other hand, an FIR (283/16) has been registered at the Counter-Terrorism Department under sections 302/34 read with Section 7 of the Anti-Terrorism Act, 1997.
Meanwhile, Sindh IG AD Khawaja appealed to the public to come forward to assist the police. "Once again, an innocent, unarmed traffic policeman was martyred,” he said in a statement.
He also announced a reward of Rs1 million for information leading to the arrest of the culprits.
Published in The Express Tribune, September 27th, 2016.