In an unprecedented move, the Punjab Government has substantially increased the pay and allowances of all cadres of policemen and officers in the Punjab Police Department. Mian Shahbaz Sharif, the Chief Minister of Punjab, announced this landmark decision while addressing jawans at Lahore’s Qila Gujjar Singh Police Lines.

The new package includes a risk allowance equal to the policemen’s existing pay, a ration allowance and compensation and guaranteed employment for families of the martyred men.

Making the remuneration package of the Punjab Police equivalent to that of the prestigious Motorway Police, is a highly appreciable decision. For a Police constable earning Rs.6,000/- as base salary, it will be a blessing and a matter of survival for his/her family members.

Police forces in most of the developed countries are highly funded as they are responsible for protection of the people and their possessions. In Pakistan, however, abnormally low pay levels have fueled bribery, corruption and inefficiences in the Police department.

This much needed move will help provide financial security to thousands of men and women serving in the Provincial force who mainly belong to lower-class urban and rural families. It will also help curb corruption, contain the menance of bribery and will surely increase the morale and motivation levels. All of this will result in a Police force that is mentally and moraly better prepared to perform and protect the citizens in the current insecure times.

In a striking reminder of the insecure times we are living in, about 20 heavily armed terrorists dressed in Police uniforms attacked the Police Training Centre at Manawa, Jallo area near Lahore.

Before entering, the reported gunmen hurled grenades at the security entrance of the centre instantly killing and injuring several guards. It was followed by an indiscriminate firing at the young Police trainees who were doing a parade in the grounds.

Death toll has reached about 20, while more than 50 people have been injured. Most of the dead are Police martyrs. The Manawa Training Centre has more than 800 police officials stationed as trainees, instructors or guards.

Punjab Police, Rangers and Pakistan Army are continuing a massive operation to evict unarmed hostages and to capture or kill the terrorists. The operation, started this early morning after the siege, is continued till now as TV footage shows presence of heavy contingents of security forces surrounding the centre premises.

This attack is strikingly sophisticated, well-planned with heavily armed young terrorists and bears similarity to the Liberty Carnage involving the ambush of the Sri Lankan Cricket Team.

We salute those martyrs who have lost their lives so far and pray that this crisis ends as soon as possible with all the terrorists caught or rightfully executed with as less mercy as possible.

At the Liberty Roundabout, which was the scene of a bloody ambush of the Sri Lankan Cricket Team on March03, it has become a daily feature for passers by to stop and pay respects to the memory of the martyred policemen.

Six of the men guarding Sri Lankan Team’s convoy lost their lives while battling about twelve very heavily armed militants right in the heart of Lahore in broad daylight.

People paying their respects at the Memorial

Lahorites are proudly commemorating the bravery of these men who sacrificed their lives to save what is left of this country’s international image. It was due to the cover provided by deterrence of these men lasting 25 minutes against the terrorists that the bus carrying the Sri Lankans was able to escape to safety of the Qadaffi Stadium. Would they have not fought bravely enough, the whole Sri Lankan team might have been taken hostage or in a worse scenario; killed!

A tribute!

As you do a roundabout at Liberty, you can see stacks of flowers and bouquets coupled with hand written charts, banners, posters and candles adorning the small memorial erected in the grounds. The most prominent feature of the memorial is the official banners with pictures of the martyrs on them.

Martyred Policemen of the Punjab Elite Force

Liberty Memorial for Heroes of 3/3

We owe a lot to the ‘Shuhada of 3/3’ namely:

– Zafar Iqbal, Constable Elite Force
– Faisal Rasheed Butt, Head Constable Elite Force
– Mudassar Nadeem, Constable Elite Force
– Muhammad Sultan, Constable/Driver Elite Force
– Tipu Farid, Constable Mujahid Squad
– Tanveer Iqbal, Traffic Warden

We pray that may God grant peace to their loved ones and bless their souls by honoring them with the highest ranks in heaven. Amen!

More Pictures: Liberty Memorial at Flickr