President Asif Ali Zardari and Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif paid tribute on Monday to more than 8,000 police officers who laid down their lives in Pakistan’s fight against terrorism.
Addressing the nation on Police Martyrs' Day (August 4), the president honored the police personnel who achieved martyrdom in the fight for internal stability.
Calling them “the real heroes of the state,” President Zardari stressed the need to remember these sacrifices not just once a year, but as a part of national consciousness. He said the state remains committed to standing by the families of martyrs and ensuring their welfare.
PM Shehbaz said that more than 8,000 police officers and personnel have laid down their lives to preserve peace and protect future generations.
“These heroes saved millions of children from becoming orphans by orphaning their own,” he said, while highlighting the recent martyrdom of five Elite Force personnel in Rahim Yar Khan during a courageous anti-robbery operation.
He emphasized that policemen perform their duties far from their families, in all weather conditions, placing national duty above personal comfort.
CM Maryam Nawaz: “Peace of Punjab is written in blood”
Punjab Chief Minister Maryam Nawaz paid rich tribute to Punjab Police martyrs, stating that every peaceful street in the province owes its serenity to the last breath of a martyr.
“Some mother lost a son, some wife a husband, so that we could live in peace,” she said, adding that the Punjab government practically stands with the martyrs’ families and is committed to fulfilling their unfulfilled dreams.
She called the blood of police martyrs “the strongest brick of our state.”
Mohsin Naqvi: "A nation that honours Its martyrs never fails"
Federal Interior Minister Mohsin Naqvi, in his statement, said August 4 is a reminder of the police’s frontline role in maintaining internal security.
“We salute those great protectors who embraced martyrdom and became immortal,” he said.
Naqvi reaffirmed that the government remains with the families of the fallen, adding, “Today, we pledge that we will neither forget the police martyrs nor leave their families alone.”
Punjab IG says “1700 officers laid down their lives in Punjab alone”
Inspector General Punjab, Dr. Usman Anwar, revealed that 1,700 officers and personnel of the Punjab Police alone have embraced martyrdom in the line of duty, particularly in anti-terror operations.
“Living nations do not forget their heroes,” he said. “The best welfare and care of the martyrs’ families remain my top priority.”
He noted that Police Martyrs’ Day is being solemnly observed across Punjab and the country, serving as a reminder of the ultimate sacrifice for public safety.
KP IGP says law and order will be brought under control in KP
Meanwhile, Khyber Pakhtunkhwa Inspector General of Police (IGP) Zulfiqar Hameed acknowledged that several parts of the province are facing law and order challenges but expressed optimism that peace would be restored through coordinated security efforts.
Speaking to the media after laying a wreath at the grave of Shaheed Commandant Frontier Constabulary (FC) Safwat Ghayyur at the Police Lines in Peshawar, the IGP vowed to honour the sacrifices of fallen officers by strengthening the writ of the state across the province.
“There are law and order issues in some regions,” Mr Hameed told reporters. “But our commitment is unwavering. With the collective efforts of police, FC, and other security agencies, we will soon bring the situation under control.”
The IGP’s comments come amid growing concern over the deteriorating security situation in parts of KP, particularly in the southern and tribal districts, where incidents of targeted killings, extortion, and militant activities have seen a rise in recent months.
He acknowledged that maintaining security in KP remains a complex task, citing geographic, socio-political, and cross-border factors. “This region has always presented unique challenges,” the police chief said. “But our officers are trained, motivated, and ready to face any threat.”
"War of thief and soldier still ongoing"
In a pointed remark, IGP Zulfiqar Hameed described the ongoing battle between criminal elements and law enforcement as a “war of the thief and the soldier.”
“This war has existed since the beginning,” he said. “But we will not back down. We will take it to its logical conclusion. Those who disrupt peace will be caught — there will be no exceptions.”
While he did not name any specific groups, his statement is being interpreted as a message to both organised crime networks and militant outfits operating covertly in the province.
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