Shafiq Tanoli lives to tell tale of seventh attack on his life

KARACHI:

Wounded but determined Shafiq Tanoli sees no reason to lose hope or feel fearful in his line of duty - not even after the seventh attempt on his life.

“Why should I lose hope? God will keep saving me against terrorists,” the brave policeman said gently from his hospital bed - his heavily bandaged face made it difficult for him to speak.

On Friday night, the in-charge of the Special Investigation Team and former SHO survived an assassination attempt on his life. He was returning from the Central Police Office to his home near Old Sabzi Mandi when he saw a motorcycle moving quickly towards his Vigo.

Tanoli’s sixth sense and good luck saved him. Seconds before the motorcycle hit his vehicle and exploded, the 45-year-old cop opened the door and jumped off, shouting to his driver, “Jaldi niklo [get away, quickly]”.

A few seconds later the bomb went off and claimed the lives of two people - luckily, the bulky, broad-shouldered police office lived to tell his tale yet again. “Thank God nothing happened to my eyes,” he said, twitching his lips with burnt marks.

The flow of visitors into his hospital room continued unabated - each policeman walking with a grim face to shake his hands and offer their support. Among them was the Anti-Extremists Cell chief SP Chaudhry Aslam, wearing in his trademark shalwar kameez.

An enemy of gangsters, political parties and militants, Tanoli believed that this time the attack was carried out by the Taliban. Earlier this month, a member of the Tehreek-e-Taliban Pakistan was killed in a police encounter headed by Tanoli. “After the death of the Taliban member, his brother threatened to kill us, saying that he won’t leave us alone,” Tanoli’s younger brother, Rasheed recalled.

The family lost a son the day when Tanoli arrested the killers of Wali Khan Babar in 2011, remembered Rasheed, adding he does not want to lose another brother. “I pray for his long life but I know that my brother won’t stop working.”

The last attack on Tanoli took place in February, when a bomb targeted his car near Hawke’s Bay Road. Tanoli escaped unhurt and rejoined work soon after. This time too, Tanoli plans to resume arresting hardened criminals. “God willing, I will come back to duty soon.”

Published in The Express Tribune, December 22^nd, 2013.