An ode to the fallen: The policeman who fought for peace till death

DSP Naveed Bangash who died in Friday’s terror attack was serving in the UN mission in K-P.

PESHAWAR: Among the 22 unfortunate worshippers who lost their lives in Friday’s gun and suicide attack at Imamia Mosque was DSP Special Branch Naveed Bangash.

He had served abroad in a United Nations (UN) mission twice and was working as the head of security for the UN mission in Khyber-Pakhtunkhwa before his life was cut short so barbarically. Of his three offspring, Bangash’s youngest daughter is just 10 months old.

“He was a gentleman; you will hardly find [someone like him] in the police these days,” recalled his cousin Hassan Jan Bangash while speaking to The Express Tribune.

Hassan said Bangash was never rude to anyone, a characteristic often attributed to policemen. This is why Bangash was selected by the UN on deputation from the Special Branch, he added.

“It was his routine to go to Imamia Mosque every Friday with other family members. He was at the mosque along with his cousin Farhan Ali when the attackers entered the mosque and turned it into a ground of carnage,” said Hassan. He added Bangash, who was in his forties, was the sole breadwinner for his family and his eldest child, a son, is still a college student.

Bangash’s cousin Farhan Ali, who died in the attack as well, owned a general store in Peshawar and was also a father of three, all daughters.

“Today, we buried two members of our family while a third is critically injured and admitted to the hospital,” said Hassan, adding both deceased men were residents of Sher Kot, Kohat. “They were always so close in life and now even closer in death.”

Imamia Mosque prayer leader Alla Nazir Hussain Mutahari’s son Muhammad Hussain, 17, was also buried in Sher Kot village along with his cousin Riaz Hussain. Muhammad Hussain and Riaz hailed from Tirah in Orakzai Agency but they were buried in Kohat due to the ongoing military operation. Muhammad Hussain’s brother was also injured in the terrorist attack.

Published in The Express Tribune, February 15^th, 2015.