The NWFP Governor, Lieutenant General Ali Muhammad Jan Aurakzai (Retd) has paid rich tributes to the martyrs of Saturday's incident that left 12 dead and 21 injured, most of them police officers and personnel.
The Governor said that they laid their lives in line of duty that speaks of their devotion to duty, commitment to protect lives and properties of the people. "I am proud of our police force and can say with full confidence that no amount of danger or threat could deter them from performance of their duties", he said.
This, he said, while talking to electronic media present at the Lady Reading Hospital, Peshawar when the Governor visited to enquire about the health of the police officials and other people who got injured in a suicide attack yesterday evening at Dhaki Dalgaran, Qissa Khawani Bazar.
Mr Ali Muhammad Jan Aurakzai went round various wards and inquired about the health of all the injured who were receiving treatment at LRH, Peshawar. He directed the hospital administration to provide best possible treatment to those injured in this tragic incident.
Talking to the patients, the Governor said that it was a worst tragedy and the perpetrators seemed to have been out to challenge the authority of the government. "I am however fully confident that our brave police force will meet the challenge with indomitable courage and determination. They are bold, committed and have the potential to thwart the evil designs of the anti-social elements", the Governor added.
The Governor said that those involved in such dastardly acts were neither Muslims nor human beings. They are terrorists, rather beasts, having no religion at all. He vowed to eliminate such elements from the society at all costs. Such incidents in the past, he said, have re-invigorated the courage and determination of our security forces and this time too our police force shall emerge stronger to quell the enemies of humanity and peace.
Paying glowing tributes to DIG Police, Malik Saad, the Governor said that officers like him are seldom born. He was known for his bravery, devotion to duty, honesty and hard work. He had the qualities of head and heart and has left an indelible mark wherever and in whatever capacity, he served in the province. His services would be long remembered by the people and the police department alike. "I am proud of people like Malik Saad and while extending my heartfelt condolences to his family, I feel no hesitation to place on record that he was a man of strong nerves, valour and steadfast in his dealings with the public.
Later he visited Hayatabad Medical Complex to enquire the health of Sher Akbar, SP, City. Talking to SP Sher Akbar, the Governor said, "it is a very big tragedy and national loss and is fully condemned by all and sundry.
While appreciating the meritorious services of Sher Akbar and others, he said, that we all are proud of such officers. He said that he was greatly impressed by the morale of injured police officials.
Lieutenant General Ali Muhammad Jan Aurakzai appealed to the people to extend full cooperation to the law enforcing agencies in the process of investigations so that the government could lay hand on the real culprits.
He assured that culprits involved in this heinous crime would be given exemplary punishment. Earlier, the Governor along with thousands of others offered funeral prayers for Malik Saad, Khan Raziq and Wajid Ali at the Police Ground, Peshawar.