In the line of duty: Families of martyred law enforcers get little by way of compensation

Only Rs3 billion collectively paid to heirs of the deceased during the last 10 years.

PESHAWAR:

Despite receiving billions of dollars in aid to fight the war on terror, the state has paid only Rs3 billion to heirs of policemen, khasadars and Frontier Constabulary (FC) personnel who lost their lives or were injured during the last decade.

Around 1,420 policemen, FC soldiers, khasadars and levies personnel have lost their lives while combating militancy, kidnappings, robberies and other illegal activities in the last 10 years in the tribal belt and Khyber-Pakhtunkhwa. Moreover, 2,400 law enforcement personnel have been injured, stated official documents available with The Express Tribune.

However, the Rs3 billion provided as compensation is not nearly enough.

Around 1,068 policemen and women from additional inspector general to Class IV employees have been killed and 2,200 injured from January 1, 2004 to August 14, 2014 in K-P. In addition, 175 levies and 130 khasadars lost their lives while 250 were injured in Fata in the same period.

Families of policemen martyred in the past decade have been given Rs1.6 billion as compensation while the injured have received Rs400 million. In Fata, Rs915 million has been provided as compensation for the deceased and injured.

Then and now

Compensation for the bereaved family of a police constable who lost his life in the line of duty was earlier Rs0.5 million. The Awami National Party-led government then increased the amount; families of officials of grades 1-15 would get Rs3 million, of grade 17 Rs5 million, grades 18-19 Rs9 million and grades 20-22 Rs10 million.

It was also decided that the compensation amount would be increased by 10% annually along with a proposal to allot plots to police officials according to their ranks. Unfortunately, the compensation amount for those who fell to militancy before 2010 was not increased.

Following a decision of the Peshawar High Court, the administration of Fata also decided to give Rs3 million to heirs of martyred khasadar and levies personnel, and Rs0.4 million to those injured in the line of duty. Families of ex-servicemen, special police force and local militia are given a nominal sum and not any other incentives.

Braving the frontline

Peshawar is on top of the list of policemen being targeted and killed in the region. Around 295 policemen have been killed in various incidents in the provincial capital with Bannu coming in second with a death toll of 140 policemen. In DI Khan, 90 policemen have been killed, 84 in Swat, 59 in Mardan and 32 in Charsadda.

Of the total number of policemen killed, 380 have lost their lives in suicide attacks, bomb blasts and missile attacks while 360 have been killed in combats with militants.

A large number of cops have also lost their lives during counteraction against kidnappers, robbers, other criminals and anti-social elements.

Two DIGs of the K-P police were killed in the line of duty: Abid Ali in 2006 and Malik Saad in 2007. FC Commandant Safwat Ghayur was killed in a suicide attack in 2010 in Peshawar.

Five SPs, Abdul Kalam Khan, Ijaz Khan, Bannu DPO Iqbal Marwat, Dir DPO Khurshid Khan, acting SP Peshawar (rural) Khurshid Khan were killed in similar attacks.

In addition, 12 DSPs, 27 inspectors, 89 sub-inspectors, 58 assistant sub-inspectors, more than 130 head constables, over 750 constables along with FC officials have also lost their lives.

Published in The Express Tribune, August 24^th, 2014.