Brave DHA inspector grappled with robber despite 8 bullets
It was only when he was shot in the head that Inspector Zafar Iqbal gave up.
KARACHI:
The extraordinary courage of a DHA vigilance team field inspector cost him his life on Thursday morning but saved a family being robbed from any harm.
“The DHA officer boldly grabbed the suspect and tried to get him under control,” said one of the residents. “Even after being shot in the leg, the officer didn’t give up and the other robber kept firing.” It was only when he was hit in the head that he collapsed.
The men attempted the robbery early Thursday morning in Gizri limits. The residents of the home located off Khayaban-e-Bahria, Phase IV, discovered at around 7:45am that the men had entered the driveway. They alerted Rescue 15 and the DHA authorities who both dispatched mobile teams.
According to Field Inspector Fiaz Hussain, a DHA team reached within two to three minutes. “Not all the robbers had managed to enter the house when the team arrived but one was hiding just inside,” Hussain said, adding that because many officers were doing early morning school duty only a few were able to reach. Field Inspector Zafar Iqbal grabbed one of the robbers, a scuffle ensued and another robber opened fire, killing Zafar. The robber who opened fire was the one hiding inside, shooting Iqbal nine times, including a fatal bullet that struck his head.
The police arrived and returned fire, injuring robber Javed in the arm. The police were able to arrest him and his accomplice Waseem, a resident of Bilal Colony. The third suspect escaped unhurt.
According to the police, Zafar Iqbal was 53 years old, a retired subedar of the Pakistan Army, a resident of Akhtar Colony and had been working for DHA for over seven years. He is survived by his wife and two children.
The Administrator said DHA will do everything possible within its resources for his family. His body has been sent to his town Talagang.
Published in The Express Tribune, January 27th, 2012.
The extraordinary courage of a DHA vigilance team field inspector cost him his life on Thursday morning but saved a family being robbed from any harm.
“The DHA officer boldly grabbed the suspect and tried to get him under control,” said one of the residents. “Even after being shot in the leg, the officer didn’t give up and the other robber kept firing.” It was only when he was hit in the head that he collapsed.
The men attempted the robbery early Thursday morning in Gizri limits. The residents of the home located off Khayaban-e-Bahria, Phase IV, discovered at around 7:45am that the men had entered the driveway. They alerted Rescue 15 and the DHA authorities who both dispatched mobile teams.
According to Field Inspector Fiaz Hussain, a DHA team reached within two to three minutes. “Not all the robbers had managed to enter the house when the team arrived but one was hiding just inside,” Hussain said, adding that because many officers were doing early morning school duty only a few were able to reach. Field Inspector Zafar Iqbal grabbed one of the robbers, a scuffle ensued and another robber opened fire, killing Zafar. The robber who opened fire was the one hiding inside, shooting Iqbal nine times, including a fatal bullet that struck his head.
The police arrived and returned fire, injuring robber Javed in the arm. The police were able to arrest him and his accomplice Waseem, a resident of Bilal Colony. The third suspect escaped unhurt.
According to the police, Zafar Iqbal was 53 years old, a retired subedar of the Pakistan Army, a resident of Akhtar Colony and had been working for DHA for over seven years. He is survived by his wife and two children.
The Administrator said DHA will do everything possible within its resources for his family. His body has been sent to his town Talagang.
Published in The Express Tribune, January 27th, 2012.