A man worthy of being called ‘shaheed’

Pakistan has seen a number of high profile assassinations at the hands of terrorists, but the January 9 hit on one of the most well-known policemen in the country is possibly among the most significant losses in terms of the country’s fight against violent extremism. The magnitude of the attack on SP Muhammad Aslam Khan, better known as Chaudhry Aslam, is in itself telling: investigation officials are saying no less than 200 kilogrammes of explosive material was used in the bomb that targeted the spearhead of the anti-terror effort in Karachi. That the targeting was so precise and accurate also points to heavy reconnaissance and homework by his assassins. That speaks volumes about how formidable a foe and how valuable a target SP Aslam was. Clearly, his assassins wanted to make sure that they got him. This was the fifth high-profile attempt on SP Aslam. At least three previous attempts involved massive bombings — but none of them managed to get their target. Or deter him for that matter.

An officer reputed for being gritty and fearless, SP Aslam’s job and success was perhaps more pivotal than efforts on the frontline battle zones in the north-west. Heading the anti-terror endeavour in Karachi meant SP Aslam was the key man in a key place — given that Karachi is a sprawling city known to nest elaborate and well-entrenched networks for all sorts of criminals, including the Tehreek-e-Taliban Pakistan (TTP). Karachi is believed to be their hideout, their recuperation centre and, most importantly, their funding channel. In short, it is their lifeline. Perhaps, that’s why they wanted SP Aslam so badly. While the TTP continue to sustain their sabotage and skirmishes on the frontlines, here was a man who was eating away at their foundation — one raid, one bust, one encounter at a time. Dozens of violent extremists, foot soldiers and mid-level commanders of the TTP had been killed or nabbed by SP Aslam in Karachi. Dozens of rings busted, plans foiled, dens cleaned out. All of them may not have made the national and international headlines, but they were making waves were it counted — i.e., the anti-terror effort.

They finally got him on January 9, and the authorities need to quickly understand the gravity of this tragedy. In SP Aslam’s assassination, the country has not just lost another brave solider on a pivotal front, but has also been pushed further towards a dangerous precipice. On the one hand, there will be a massive boost in morale for enemies of the state, who will be emboldened by such a big achievement, and, on the other, dejection amongst the ranks of security personnel, who are already severely in need of inspiration and encouragement — particularly the Sindh police. Seeing their larger-than-life icon fall and the government not reacting in a befittingly strong manner through words and deeds, will further worsen matters.

SP Aslam’s death is not only important in terms of the TTP. Aside from the TTP, which is a relatively new phenomenon, Karachi is home to a host of well-entrenched criminal rings, ranging from extortionists to kidnappers and drug cartels, many of them with political links, and SP Aslam had, over the years, dealt severe blows to them all, regardless of affiliation. They, too, had over the years tried to eliminate SP Aslam. That the TTP are the ones who got him speaks volumes about the wider significance of the anti-terror battle and its consequences, which reach far beyond establishing writ of the state in the border regions of the country. The TTP may have done it, but the other criminal elements, which often hold the country’s largest city and its financial centre hostage to violence, will benefit by his death as well — and that is frightening for a city that has seen political violence inflict death and fear for decades. Terror of all varieties thrives when fear outweighs confidence. In the death of a fearless officer, that equation has been further unbalanced.

Published in The Express Tribune, January 11^th, 2014.

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