By Shamim Shahid
Like previous years, this year thev Police Martyrs’ Day is being observed across Khyber Pakhtunkhwa with great enthusiasm respect and reverence. Owing to the observance of the Chehlum (40th day) of the martyrs of Karbala, the day is being marked on August 5 instead of its customary date of August 4. The same day, August 5, is also observed as Kashmir Exploitation Day, commemorating India’s revocation of the special constitutional status of Indian-administered Kashmir. Meanwhile, in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa, the ruling Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) is organizing a massive protest rally in Peshawar to increase pressure on the federal government for the release of former Prime Minister Imran Khan.
The PTI office-bearers, workers, and lawmakers certainly have the democratic right to hold public meetings and even stage peaceful sit-ins—not only in Peshawar and Khyber Pakhtunkhwa but throughout the country, particularly in Rawalpindi, Islamabad, and Lahore—if they are genuinely committed to securing Imran Khan’s release.
The observance of Police Martyrs’ Day on August 4 also has a historical significance. On August 4, 2010, Pakistan lost one of its bravest and most distinguished police officers, Safwat Ghayur. His martyrdom remains unique because, after assuming office as the Capital City Police Officer (CCPO) of Peshawar in 2008, he launched a highly organized and determined campaign against terrorism. The planning, courage, and operational strategy he demonstrated remain unmatched in the history of policing and security institutions. Before and after Safwat Ghayur’s martyrdom, hundreds of police officers and personnel have laid down their lives in terrorist attacks. The list of these martyrs is long, and the bravery and sacrifice of each one deserves a separate book. Among them were senior officers such as Abid Ali, Malik Saad, Khan Raziq, and Kalam Khan, alongside courageous policemen like Riazuddin, who sacrificed his life to save nearly 300 members of the Peshawar Press Club, and Khaista Khan, who saved the lives of hundreds of lawyers, judges, court staff, and litigants during the attack on the Peshawar Bar Association.
Only a few days ago, Miskeenzada, a humble police officer from Totalai in Buner’s Khudokhel Tehsil, also joined this long list of martyrs after attempting to persuade an armed militant to surrender.
On Sunday evening, during a peaceful rally in Kabal, Swat, a suicide bomber attempted to enter a police station. Police personnel tried to stop him, prompting him to detonate the explosives strapped to his body. The blast claimed the lives of nearly a dozen people and injured around two dozen others, with more than half of the casualties being police personnel. A few days earlier, militants attacked a police installation in Hangu, reportedly killing around two dozen personnel and injuring 23 others, while ten officers were reported missing. Hardly a day passes without a terrorist incident somewhere in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa. Yet, while senior civil, military, and political leaders sitting in the power corridors of Rawalpindi and Islamabad appear to remain silent spectators, the leadership of PTI—which claims to represent the province’s 40 million people—has also failed to demonstrate the seriousness expected in confronting this crisis.
According to official figures, 2,396 police personnel have embraced martyrdom in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa over the past 25 years. Of these, 208 were martyred during the government of the Muttahida Majlis-e-Amal (MMA), 751 during the coalition government of the Awami National Party (ANP) and the Pakistan Peoples Party (PPP), and 1,437 during the governments led by Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) since 2013.
The victims of terrorism are not limited to police officers. Thousands of political leaders and activists, civil servants, military personnel, and ordinary citizens have also lost their lives. In addition, property worth billions of dollars has been destroyed.
The greatest tragedy is not merely that terrorism continues unabated, but that very few have learned any meaningful lessons from it. Except for a handful of political parties and leaders, most have chosen to ignore each new act of terrorism rather than address its root causes. There is no doubt that successive provincial governments, the people of Khyber Pakhtunkhwa, and opinion-makers appreciate the sacrifices made by police personnel. Unfortunately, some corrupt elements within the police force itself have failed to honor those sacrifices.
Those who have been martyred cannot be brought back to life, but the lives of those still serving can certainly be protected. The absence of a comprehensive strategy to safeguard police personnel and effectively combat terrorism has led to growing frustration within the force across the province. A police jawan from Bannu, Jamshed Khan, lost his job after publicly voicing these concerns. Yet today, his voice is increasingly becoming the voice of many within the Khyber Pakhtunkhwa Police. Instead of punishing officers who speak up, the police leadership should encourage such courage and address their concerns.
Police authorities also have a responsibility to ensure the security and welfare of the families of martyrs and to take action against those who exploit the names of fallen officers for personal gain. There is little doubt that the wave of terrorism in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa is linked to broader geopolitical, economic, and strategic developments at the regional and international levels. Nevertheless, remaining silent in the face of this bloodshed is itself a grave moral failure.
Those occupying positions of authority must break their silence and play an active role in ending this cycle of violence. Defeating terrorism is essential for securing Pakistan’s future.
Despite the enormous sacrifices made by the police force, its public image continues to suffer because of the misconduct of a significant number of officers and personnel. Allegations of bribery, abuse of authority, and even extrajudicial killings have tarnished the reputation of the institution, leading many people to view the police with distrust.
At present, Chaudhry Zulfiqar Hameed serves as the Inspector General of Police in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa and is widely regarded as an honest and decent officer. However, numerous complaints continue to emerge regarding the conduct of many officers serving under his command.
Even so, the people of Khyber Pakhtunkhwa continue to recognize and appreciate the police force’s immense sacrifices and vital role in the fight against terrorism. In return for this public trust and goodwill, police officers and personnel must also respond with professionalism, integrity, accountability, and respect for the people they are sworn to protect.
