A senior police officer along with two constables embraced martyrdom in a militant attack, which officials believe is the first of its kind where modern gadgets including thermal weapon sights were used to target police on Sarband police station in the outskirts of Peshawar.
The banned Tehreek-i-Taliban Pakistan (TTP) claimed responsibility for the cowardly attack. While we do appreciate and recognise sacrifices being rendered by police, this attack is a stark reminder of how ill-equipped our police force is.
Whereas attackers were equipped with sophisticated gadgetry to carry out their nefarious activity in the darkness, it is unfortunate that our police personnel became victim just because of being badly equipped.
Inspector General Police Khyber Pakhtunkhwa Moazzam Jah Ansari while talking to reporters stated that “since it was night time and they did not have any method or resources to see the enemy and as a result police personnel fell victim to enemy attack.
” Khyber Pakhtunkhwa’s police have been on the frontline in war against terrorism and faced many terrorist attacks yet it is highly regrettable that our authorities are least concerned to provide them requisite gadgets to confront this ever-rising menace.
Both federal and provincial governments must take notice of it and instead of pointing fingers at each other of deteriorating situation in the province should immediately provide funds to purchase latest equipment including sniper weapons or night vision sights as well as ensuring proper training to police personnel to tackle effectively scourge of terrorism.
If we did not prepare our police on modern lines, these terrorists and criminals will continue to haunt us and continue their killing spree.
The political leadership has condemned the latest attack but they need to go beyond mere lip service.
The matter needs to be taken up strongly with the Afghan authorities as their land is still being used for terrorist activities inside Pakistan.
