The children and families of police personnel who were martyred in the war on terrorism in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa have strongly protested against the ongoing neglect by the provincial government, particularly by Chief Minister Ali Amin Gandapur. They have announced a complete boycott of all police functions on August 4.
The affected families plan to protest during the main ceremony of Martyrs’ Day on August 4 in Peshawar, where the Chief Minister of Khyber Pakhtunkhwa is scheduled to be the special guest. The children made this announcement of martyred police personnel from the Kohat, Mardan, and Bannu regions at a gathering held at the Peshawar Press Club.
During the protest, the children of the fallen officers held pictures of the martyrs in their hands and demonstrated silently. Salman Khan, the spokesperson for the families of the bereaved police personnel, expressed their grievances, stating that their elders sacrificed their lives for the beloved homeland. Unfortunately, he noted that their children are now struggling to secure their rights and are often overlooked.
Khan mentioned that he has reached out to the Inspector General of Police in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa, expressing a desire for their support to strengthen the police force. However, he criticised the Chief Minister for failing to take action. He highlighted that from 1998 to 2024, no jobs have been provided to the children of martyrs in the mentioned regions, and the families feel frustrated as they repeatedly seek their rights from police lines and other institutions.
He also pointed out that the Chief Minister has made promises in the past regarding support for martyrs’ families, but those promises have remained unfulfilled. Khan stressed the urgency of the situation, noting that many of the martyred officers had daughters instead of sons, and as time passes, the families are growing older without any resolution.
Khan and his colleagues from the Kohat region announced their intention to protest alongside their families at the main Martyrs’ Day event in Peshawar on August 4. They declared that there would be a complete boycott of the Martyrs’ Day celebrations in Mardan, Kohat, and Bannu until their rights are officially recognised and addressed.
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