On the line: Bravehearts braving it themselves

Threats to police officers on the rise, but they have ample security cover: CPO.

RAWALPINDI:

Police officials being threatened by criminal elements they put behind bars is not unusual. But when the same guardians of the public need to hire private security guards to protect themselves and their families from these threats, something seems amiss.

Some officials in the police who have either investigated high- profile terrorism cases and or have taken strict action against them are reportedly receiving death threats.

These officials, with only nominal security given by their department, have reportedly begun hiring private security guards for their protection while off duty.

However, Rawalpindi City Police Officer Humayun Bashir Tarar termed such reports baseless, adding that SHOs have ample security cover and can be provided with more if they consider the existing cover insufficient.

On the other hand, a police officer, requesting anonymity, said he has received threatening calls and letters. “But it doesn’t mean we should sit at home. We all have to die one day, so we can’t keep living in fear,” he said.

The calls and letters were from banned outfits, according to the officers.

A former SHO, who investigated several high-profile cases while in service, said he had been investigating cases related to bomb blasts, attacks on Nato oil tankers, and had also arrested dozens of militants.

“I mostly investigate [terrorism] cases and am still receiving threats,” he said, adding that he has also survived attempts on his life.

Similarly, SHOs Kashif Riaz and Ijaz Shah, who were part of the Benazir Bhutto murder investigation, were among those who had received threats in the past.

According to many accounts, lack of security was the reason that criminal elements were able to kill two high-profile officers — Senior Superintendent of Police Chaudhry Aslam and Inspector Shafiq Tanoli — in Karachi in the recent past.

Published in The Express Tribune, April 30^th, 2014.