Senior K-P cop martyred in suicide attack

Six cops also injured in the explosion which occurred near Zarghooni Mosque; IS claims responsibility for the attack

PESHAWAR: Additional Inspector General (AIG) of K-P Police Ashraf Noor and his guard Habibullah were martyred in a suicide bomb attack on his convoy in Hayatabad area of Peshawar on Friday morning.

According to Rescue 1122 service, six other policemen suffered injuries in the explosion near Zarghooni Mosque.

Peshawar police chief Tahir Khan told reporters that the suicide bomber rammed his motorcycle into the AIG’s vehicle in the police convoy at the junction of Hayatabad Phase I and II.

Noor was on way to the Central Police Office (CPO) when he came under attack, an official said.

Blast site. PHOTO: EXPRESS

“Ashraf Noor died on the spot while his guards were injured. They were rushed to the Hayatabad Medical Complex,” he said, adding that the vehicle caught fire and was badly damaged.

“Some 15-20 kilogrammes of explosives was used in the blast and the bomber rammed his motorcycle into the vehicle of the AIG,” Bomb Disposal Squad AIG Shafqat Malik said.

Funeral prayers for the slain AIG were offered at the police lines.



“Ashraf Noor was a faithful and principled officer and his martyrdom has given the K-P police a new resolve to continue our fight against terrorism,” Inspector General Salahuddin Khan said while speaking to the media. “The provincial police need cooperation and prayers from the general public so that we can continue this war bravely.”

Security officials cordoned off the area and started investigations after the attack.



AIG Muhammad Ahsraf Noor, son of Haji Ali Muhammad, hailed from Gilgit-Baltistan. He was born in April 1963 and obtained a Master’s of Science in Agriculture before joining the Police Service of Pakistan after clearing the superior services exam in 1989. He was due to retire in 2023.

During his career, Noor held several key positions, including district police chief of Kahota, Chitral and Kohistan, DIG of Special Branch and Commandant of the Police Training Chief in Hangu.

He was transferred last year to the Frontier Constabulary, posted as Additional IGP of Elite Force on March 8 this year and subsequently as Additional IG at the police headquarters from April 25.

The coffin of Ashraf Noor was sent to Gilgit in a C-130. His family, the K-P IG and other senior police officers accompanied the body to attend the burial. The body was then transported to his ancestral village for burial in the presence of police and army officials.



PHOTO: EXPRESS

Unshaken resolve

Prime Minister Shahid Khaqan Abbasi condemned the attack and lauded the sacrifices of policemen in the fight against terrorism.

He said that dastardly acts of the militants could not deter the law-enforcement agencies and the nation from taking the fight to its logical conclusion. “Our resolve to eradicate the menace of terrorism cannot be shaken.”

Chief of the Army Staff Gen Qamar Javed Bajwa, K-P Chief Minister Pervez Khattak and Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf Chairman Imran Khan also condemned the attack.

“By sacrificing his life, AIG Ashraf Noor protected lives of citizens,” the chief minister said in a tweet. Police officers and personnel were facing attacks in revenge for eliminating terrorism and restoring peace in the province, he added.

Ashraf Noor was the second highest ranking official in K-P police and a batch mate of IGP Salahuddin.

He was living in Hayatabad with his two wives. He also had a hotel business from the start and had a reputation of being a clean man in the force.