Road renamed after Chaudhry Aslam

Police officer was killed in a terrorist attack on Lyari Expressway three years ago

KARACHI: Commemorating the third death anniversary of Sindh police’s anti-terror cop Chaudhry Muhammad Aslam Khan, the government named Beaumont Road after him on Monday.

Khan, who was Crime Investigation Department’s Superintendent of Police (SP), was killed in a terrorist attack on the Lyari Expressway near Essa Nagri area on January 9, 2014. The banned militant outfit - Tehreek-e-Taliban Pakistan had claimed responsibility of the attack. Beaumont Road, located along with the PIDC and the Civil Lines office of the Counter-Terrorism Department (CTD), has been renamed as Chaudhry Aslam Shaheed Road.



After the ceremony, Fateha and Quran Khawani was held at the CTD office. The event was attended by slain SP’s widow, Noreen Aslam, and three sons along with a large number of senior officers and Khan’s colleagues, including Karachi AIG Mushtaq Maher, CTD AIG Sanaullah Abbasi.

“Khan was a brave officer and we are thankful to the chief minister for taking this decision and naming a road after him,” said Maher while speaking to the media. “Khan played a vital role in eliminating terrorism and terrorists from Karachi.” Finally, the government has taken a step to recognise my husband’s sacrifice, said Aslam. “We are thankful to the Sindh government for doing this and honouring the officer who sacrificed his life for the nation.”

Besides police, politicians from Pakistan Peoples Party, Muslim League-Nawaz (PML-N) and Muttahida Qaumi Movement (MQM) as well as people from different walks of life were present at the occasion. “Khan will remain alive in our memories,” said MQM-Pakistan leader Rauf Siddiqui. “He was not an ordinary cop but he was a symbol of terror for the terrorists.”

Seeking justice

With 30 years of service in Karachi police, SP Khan was a symbol of success for many and hatred for plenty others.

Law enforcement agencies have a number of times claimed to have killed the suspected militants involved in the killing of the SP.

Three militants, including the mastermind behind Khan’s killing, were also killed along with four of their comrades during an alleged encounter in Saudabad area with the District Malir SSP Rao Anwar in October, 2014.



Senior CTD official said that the hardcore militant of Lashkar-e-Jhangvi (LeJ) Ataur Rehman alias Naeem Bukhari was the mastermind behind the attack on Khan. Rehman was an expert in making bombs and is said to have orchestrated attacks against Rangers personnel as well.

“It is true that Bukhari was the mastermind of the attack,” claimed a senior CTD official who had been closed to the SP Khan.

Published in The Express Tribune, January 10^th, 2017.