Not a good year to be a cop: 172 policemen killed in 2013

Compared to 2012, the killings of policemen more than doubled with a total of 122 killings.

KARACHI:

The killings of 172 policemen have broken all records of the Karachi police history. The last three years for Karachi police proved precarious due to the killings of several policemen.

In 2011, a total of 53 policemen - four sub-inspectors, eight assistant sub-inspectors, 12 head constables and 29 police constables - lost their lives in the line of duty. Compared to this number, in 2012, the killings of policemen more than doubled with a total of 122 killings - one SP, three inspectors, 11 sub-inspectors, 18 assistant sub-inspectors, 18 head constables and 71 police constables.  From January to November this year, as many as 150 policemen - two DSPs, three inspectors, 15 sub-inspectors, 17 assistant sub-inspectors , 27 head constables and 86 police constables - have been gunned down. Meanwhile, in eight years, from 1992 to 2010, around 250 policemen were gunned down in Karachi.

SITE, Manghopir, Sultanabad, Pakhtunabad, Orangi Town, Korangi, Landhi, Quaidabad, Gulshan-e-Iqbal, Sohrab Goth, North Nazimabad and Nazimabad are the areas where the Taliban have strong presence and they have been known for the killings of law enforcers. Two dozen policemen alone were killed in SITE this year. Several members of the TTP have also so far been killed or arrested by the law enforcers in connection with their involvement in the attacks and the killings of law enforcers. “If we look at the history of law enforcers’ killings in SITE, it seems that the militants of the TTP are probably behind Babar’s death but nothing could be said exactly until the investigations are complete,” said SHO Atiqur Rehman while talking to The Express Tribune.

Published in The Express Tribune, January 1^st, 2014.