Officials and family members offer funeral prayers for slain police constable Shahzad Gul. PHOTO: ABDUL GHAFFAR BAIG/EXPRESS
Khyber-Pakhtunkhwa (K-P) police faces great threats and challenges as militant attacks continue, said IGP Ihsan Ghani on Friday. However, he said law enforcement officers will take all steps to restore peace in the province in spite of these threats.
Ghani addressed the media at Police Lines Peshawar, after Head Constable Shehzad Gul’s funeral. Gul was shot dead outside Assembly of God Church in Umidabad Friday morning. K-P chief secretary, home secretary, Capital City Police Officer Liaqat Ali Khan and other senior officials were also present at the funeral.
“K-P police in general – Peshawar police in particular – is overstretched due to operations and the challenges increase daily,” stated the IGP.
However, he promised success in law enforcement’s efforts to eradicate militancy. Police will conduct operations to protect citizens with the help of security and intelligences agencies, added Ghani.
Discussing provincial security, the head of police in K-P reminded those present militants were continuing to target not only members of the police force but other more vulnerable populations as well. Attacks against internally displaced persons (IDPs) in camps, polio teams and other health workers stretch the force thin as it tries to provide maximum protection.
“The police are being targeted in particular over the last few days but the force will never turn its back to growing threats,” remarked IGP Ghani. It will carry on operations to dismantle terrorist organisations.
“These attacks will never dampen the spirits of our jawans, but will further strengthen our courage to eliminate militants,” continued Ghani.
The police have been conducting operations around the province and have had great success, claimed Ghani. The operation in Frontier Region Peshawar on Thursday was also deemed a success; other security forces had also participated.
“We are not talking about large-scale operations – we are talking about targeted operations. However, if need be we will conduct large-scale security operations.”
During a recent meeting with the K-P chief secretary, more emphasis was placed on the use of ‘actionable intelligence’ to help carry out targeted operations. However, the IGP emphasised again, whenever there is need, full-fledge operations will be carried out against militants.
“We met the chief secretary along with other law enforcement and security agencies. More stress was placed on strategy and chalking out plans to combat militancy.”
There was also an emphasis on the need for better coordination among different security apparatus and intelligence agencies in the province.
The police are formulating a fool-proof security plan for Ramazan, reassured IGP Ghani. At a cabinet meeting on law and order in Ramazan, the police will present the plan to the provincial government.
Published in The Express Tribune, July 6th, 2013.
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