Death toll rises: Those who guard us

12 attacks took place on Orangi Town police station making it the top target of criminals in 2013.

KARACHI:

On June 19, 2013, when constable Rana Amir, 36, was sitting on the driving seat of his police van in Patel Para, a few hours before the funeral prayers of the Awami National Party men, who were killed in a targeted attack a day earlier.

Out of nowhere, a volley of bullets came down on the van, killing two of Amir’s comrades immediately. Luckily, Amir survived even though a bullet crossed the left side of his head. “I had almost died,” the policeman told The Express Tribune, more than six months later. “I could not believe when doctors and my family told me I was alive. I cannot forget that moment.”

Since he has been released from the hospital, Amir spends most of his time on the bed. The tragedy has paralysed the right side of his body; he cannot speak clearly and has trouble moving from one place to another.



When they were deployed for the funeral, the police officials had told the men that it was a sensitive area but they failed to arrange proper security. The policemen at lower ranks felt these lives could have been saved had the department given them proper equipment, such as bulletproof jackets and helmets.

Despite all of this, Amir vowed to rejoin the force to combat crime and terrorism. “I have been fed up of spending time at home,” he admitted. “I pray to Allah to make me healthy like before so I can join the force again.” Amir feared that the law enforcers, especially the police, have to face several challenges in this new year as the frequent killings of police jawans is keeping morale down. “We do not have any other option but to fight until the last drop of our blood,” he said. “They [terrorists] can get tired of targeting us but we will never get tired of giving sacrifices.”

Published in The Express Tribune, January 18^th, 2014.