K-P Police stand strong against Covid-19

The force has lost seven lives to respiratory disease

PESHAWAR:

The fight against the Covid-19 virus is a challenge not just for healthcare providers but also for other essential workers, including law enforcers.

In Khyber-Pakhtunkhwa (K-P), police officials are falling ill at an alarming rate as they perform their duties on the frontlines against the threat of coronavirus.

“Officers face two threats in K-P. One is crime, the other is the Covid-19 virus,” said Inspector General of Police, Dr. Sanaullah Abbasi.

According to details gathered by the Express Tribune, so far, more than 195 police officials have contracted the respiratory disease. The good news is that more than 80 have recovered. And the remaining 110 are still fighting their battle against the Covid-19 virus. Out of the total infected officers, more than 56 belong to Peshawar, 86 hail from Malakand, 25 from Mardan, 20 from Kohat, six from Hazara, two from Bannu District, and one from Dera Ismail Khan District.

Police officials have played a pivotal role in imposing the provincial government’s smart lockdown strategy, which allows them to implement locality-based restrictions in coronavirus hotspots. “Our job is to make sure people are following the government’s orders at all times,” said one officer who was speaking on the condition of anonymity.

From the first victim to the most recent one, the police department has lost seven officers to Covid-19. According to details shared by the department, Muhammad Faheem was the first officer who succumbed to the virus. The respiratory disease has claimed more lives since then. Muhammad Nisar, a Station House Officer from Peshawar, became the second victim. Last month, Raheem Khan, a sepoy from Charsadda, lost the battle against coronavirus. Khan, like others, contracted the disease while he was on duty.

Despite the odds, police officials plan to serve without fear. One senior officer said the department is working on ensuring that citizens follow the SOPs during Eid this month. “We made sure people follow the SOPs during Ramazan, and now we will make sure they follow the rules during Eid,” said SSP Operations Zahoor Babar Afridi.

Facilities

According to details gathered by the Express Tribune, there are no dedicated testing facilities for K-P’s bravest. Once infected, officers quarantine at home. If the condition deteriorates, officers can shift to the hospital for further treatment.

Volunteers

On the other hand, K-P’s police department has a significant number of volunteers. These individuals serve alongside police officials in high-risk areas. They receive Rs.500 per day. On the frontlines, these individuals are most vulnerable. One volunteer who was speaking on the condition of anonymity said: “We don’t even get face masks.”

Published in The Express Tribune, July 2^nd, 2020.