In the line of duty: Police constable run over, killed at checkpoint

ISLAMABAD:

A policeman with over 25 years of service under his belt died in hospital on Monday after being hit by a recklessly-driven pickup. Constable Nazeer Ahmed, 50, who hailed from Faisalabad, was on duty at the checkpoint near T-Cross on 9th Avenue when a fellow policeman signalled a speeding Shehzore pickup to stop.

Police officials on duty at the checkpoint told the Industrial Area police that the vehicle’s driver did not reduce speed despite being very close to the picket. Constable Ahmed also signalled for him to stop, but the pickup swerved and hit the policeman before ramming into a concrete block and coming to halt.

Ahmed sustained serious injuries and was shifted to Pakistan Institute of Medical Sciences (Pims) hospital, where he died after an hour of failed attempts to revive him. The pickup’s driver, Muhmmad Yasir, was arrested and handed over to Industrial Area police for further action. Police initially suspected the pickup must have had contraband onboard because of the driver’s refusal to stop, however, upon inspection they found no illegal items.

The police said the suspect was being interrogated and further investigations were underway. Funeral prayers for the constable were offered at Police Lines Headquarters, after which the body was handed over to the family for burial.

However, no compensation was announced by the police chief for the constable’s family.

Published in The Express Tribune, October 9^th, 2012.