Chaudhry Aslam Khan

Chaudhry Aslam Khan (سواتی چودھری اسلم) was a superintendent (SP) in the Sindh Police department in Islamic Republic of Pakistan. He headed the anti-extremist cell of Sindh police's Crime Investigation Department (CID). He died in a suicide attack by Tehrik-i-Taliban Pakistan.^[1]

Personal life

Muhammad Aslam Khan originally hailed from the village of Dhodial in the Mansehra District of the Hazara region in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa.^[2] The name "Chaudhry" was added in front of his name due to his role in the Karachi operation.

Career

He started his career as an assistant sub-inspector in 1984. Prior to that, he had served as a Station House Officer (SHO) at a number of police stations across Karachil.

Lyari area in Karachi was a battleground between two rival groups becoming a no-go zone for law enforcement agencies. Aslam's breakthrough in the restive area secured him the position of leading the Lyari Task Force (LTF). Along with his team, including DSP Irfan Bahadur, Aslam launched an operation against gangsters in Lyari. In various 'shootouts', the team killed many gangsters holding Lyari hostage. He was held in deep regard by the police force and the general public of Pakistan.

In May 2005, LTF raided a bungalow belonging to gangster Rehman Dakait in Balochistan's Hub area, which sparked a four-hour shootout leading to death of a police officer, a civilian and two suspected members of Dakait's gang.

In 2010, Aslam was appointed as head of the Investigation Wing in the Criminal Investigation Department.^[3]

Aslam won himself a reputation for his performance in the 2012 'Lyari grand operation' which once again aimed at clearing the area of criminals.^[4]

2011 attack by Taliban

TTP attack on his residence in 2011

In 2011, he escaped unhurt from a Taliban attack on his house situated in the Defence Phase VIII area of Karachi. The attack resulted in the death of eight people. TTP claimed responsibility for the attack as retaliation for ongoing efforts against them, including the arrest and killing of many of the organisation's fighters. At that time, a defiant Aslam, whose home was half blown away by the blast, said he knew he was the target but it would not deter him from fighting against extremists.^[4]

Death

On 9 January 2014, he died along with two other officers, his guard and driver, when a bomb targeted his convoy on the Lyari expressway in Karachi. The Mohmand Agency chapter of the banned Tehrik-i-Taliban Pakistan (TTP) claimed responsibility for the attack.^[5] Sajjad Mohmand, a spokesman for the militant group said Aslam was targeted for carrying out operations against the TTP. "Aslam was involved in killing Taliban prisoners in CID cells in Karachi and was on the top of our hit-list," he said.^[6]

Reaction on Death

Prime Minister Muhammad Nawaz Sharif praised SP CID Chaudhry Aslam and the other officers killed as martyrs, and said that such attacks will not deter the law enforcement agencies in their fight against terrorism.^[7] Inter Services Public Relations (ISPR) issued a statement of the army chief General Raheel Sharif, acknowledging the contributions of police and other Law Enforcement Agencies (LEAs) in the fight against terror, and paying tribute to Chaudhry Aslam for laying down his life in the line of duty.^[8] MQM chief Altaf Hussain also condemned the killing of SSP Chaudhry Aslam and his two colleagues. "SSP Chaudhry Aslam was active in fighting against terrorists who are carrying out subversive activities in Pakistan. He conducted operations against terrorists and criminal elements bravely", Altaf Hussain said.^[7]

See also

• Deaths in 2014
• Terrorist incidents in Pakistan in 2014
• Safwat Ghayur

References