Gone too soon: Policeman who died Monday was facing retirement in two months
Four policemen were killed in a targeted attack on Monday night.
Additional Chief Secretary Karachi and IG Sindh lay wreaths atop coffins of policemen gunned down in Karachi. PHOTO: NNI
KARACHI:
Sub-inspector Afraz Khan was looking forward to retiring in two months and spending time with his family when his life was cut short in an attack on Monday night.
The 55-year-old sub-inspector was among the four policemen who died in the line of duty on Monday night when a police van was targeted in Ibrahim Hyderi. Khan was a father of three sons and a seven-year-old daughter.
“We were planning to move back to our hometown in Azad Kashmir after my father’s retirement,” said Zohaib, his eldest son. “But we had no idea my father’s dreams of going to his hometown will come true with his death.” The family has already taken the body to their hometown for burial.
Khan’s family moved to Karachi nearly five years ago. “Khan joined the police force more than 25 years ago but he called his family only a few years ago and was living with them in a rented house,” recalled the victim’s colleague, Imtiaz.
Another victim of the same attack, constable Dedaar Ali, was also scheduled for retirement in two years. He has left behind nine children and a widow. Ali was also living with his family in Abdullah Goth in Shah Latif Town and hailed from Shikarpur. “My father always told me that I have to join the force after him,” remembered his eldest son, Ayaz Ali, while talking to The Express Tribune. “He wanted to see me in a police uniform. May be his dreams will come true and I will join the force but my father will not be here to see me in the uniform.”
Even 50-year-old constable Shafiq who was the third victim of the attack was due to retire soon. He lived in Landhi along with his eight children and a wife. He was buried at Maula Madad graveyard in Sherpao Colony.
“We are proud of him as he sacrificed his life in the line of duty,” said his brother, Mehran. “But we are not happy with the police department as it should take care of its men.” He felt the department must have ensured these men at least had bulletproof jackets.
The family of constable Akhtar Ali, the fourth victim of the attack, also criticised the police department and made the police higher-ups equally responsible for the killings. “They [high-ranking officials] should stop the Karachi operation and resign from their posts if they have failed to protect the lives of their juniors and to provide equipment for their protection,” suggested Akhtar’s brother, Akbar. Ali lived in Korangi and was a father of seven children. He was posted to Ibrahim Hyderi police station for the last 12 years. His son, Arshad Ali, is also serving at the department.
Earlier, the funeral prayers of the four personnel were offered at Police Headquarters in Garden. An FIR No. 30/14, under Sections 302, 427/34 and 7 of the Anti-Terrorism Act was registered at Ibrahim Hyderi police station on behalf of the state against unidentified persons. Few suspects were also detained during overnight raids in Ali Akbar Shah Goth and adjoining areas in Ibrahim Hyderi. There is, however, still no major breakthrough.
“We will continue questioning the suspects but the killers are not among them,” said SHO Amanullah Marwat. “We are investigating the case from two-to-three different angles and will share good news soon.”
Published in The Express Tribune, February 5th, 2014.
Sub-inspector Afraz Khan was looking forward to retiring in two months and spending time with his family when his life was cut short in an attack on Monday night.
The 55-year-old sub-inspector was among the four policemen who died in the line of duty on Monday night when a police van was targeted in Ibrahim Hyderi. Khan was a father of three sons and a seven-year-old daughter.
“We were planning to move back to our hometown in Azad Kashmir after my father’s retirement,” said Zohaib, his eldest son. “But we had no idea my father’s dreams of going to his hometown will come true with his death.” The family has already taken the body to their hometown for burial.
Khan’s family moved to Karachi nearly five years ago. “Khan joined the police force more than 25 years ago but he called his family only a few years ago and was living with them in a rented house,” recalled the victim’s colleague, Imtiaz.
Another victim of the same attack, constable Dedaar Ali, was also scheduled for retirement in two years. He has left behind nine children and a widow. Ali was also living with his family in Abdullah Goth in Shah Latif Town and hailed from Shikarpur. “My father always told me that I have to join the force after him,” remembered his eldest son, Ayaz Ali, while talking to The Express Tribune. “He wanted to see me in a police uniform. May be his dreams will come true and I will join the force but my father will not be here to see me in the uniform.”
Even 50-year-old constable Shafiq who was the third victim of the attack was due to retire soon. He lived in Landhi along with his eight children and a wife. He was buried at Maula Madad graveyard in Sherpao Colony.
“We are proud of him as he sacrificed his life in the line of duty,” said his brother, Mehran. “But we are not happy with the police department as it should take care of its men.” He felt the department must have ensured these men at least had bulletproof jackets.
The family of constable Akhtar Ali, the fourth victim of the attack, also criticised the police department and made the police higher-ups equally responsible for the killings. “They [high-ranking officials] should stop the Karachi operation and resign from their posts if they have failed to protect the lives of their juniors and to provide equipment for their protection,” suggested Akhtar’s brother, Akbar. Ali lived in Korangi and was a father of seven children. He was posted to Ibrahim Hyderi police station for the last 12 years. His son, Arshad Ali, is also serving at the department.
Earlier, the funeral prayers of the four personnel were offered at Police Headquarters in Garden. An FIR No. 30/14, under Sections 302, 427/34 and 7 of the Anti-Terrorism Act was registered at Ibrahim Hyderi police station on behalf of the state against unidentified persons. Few suspects were also detained during overnight raids in Ali Akbar Shah Goth and adjoining areas in Ibrahim Hyderi. There is, however, still no major breakthrough.
“We will continue questioning the suspects but the killers are not among them,” said SHO Amanullah Marwat. “We are investigating the case from two-to-three different angles and will share good news soon.”
Published in The Express Tribune, February 5th, 2014.