SP Akbar Shinwari mourned in Mardan; family recalls his bravery and Luqman’s dedication to children
File image of Akbar Shinwari. PHOTO: FACEBOOK
The family of SP Akbar Muhammad Shinwari, who was among those martyred in the Kohat Old Police Lines suicide attack and rampage, has been receiving a steady stream of mourners at their home in Hathian village, Mardan, BBC Urdu reported on Saturday.
According to his nephew Tufail Akbar, Shinwari spent much of his police career serving in areas including Dir, Bajaur and Swat during periods of intense militancy, taking part in several major and dangerous operations. “He was very brave. He received threats too, but rarely spoke about them,” Tufail told BBC Urdu.
The officer had been particularly devastated by the death of his younger brother, Motorway Police Sub-Inspector Javed Akbar, who was killed after being struck by a dumper truck on July 15.
Shinwari had repeatedly lamented his brother’s death, saying: “Why did Javed leave me? It would have been better if I had gone instead.”
Two months later, Shinwari himself was killed in the Kohat terror attack.
Tufail said Shinwari had two sons and two daughters, with his youngest daughter only six months old. He said the officer had been particularly delighted at her birth and considered her “the apple of his eye”.
Despite holding the rank of SP, Shinwari was regarded by people in his native area as a friend and someone they could turn to for help, Tufail said. “Whenever people had a problem involving a hospital, doctor or government department, they would come to him,” he said, adding that Shinwari generally returned home only on weekends.
The terror attack also claimed the lives of Muhammad Luqman and two young children, including his four-and-a-half-year-old son Abdullah, according to BBC Urdu.
Read More: 15 police personnel among 21 martyred in Kohat Police Lines terrorist attack; over 100 injured
Luqman’s brother-in-law Muhammad Tanveer told BBC Urdu that he had been at work in Kohat when his sister called in distress, asking about her husband and children. Tanveer repeatedly tried calling Luqman but received no response. Soon afterwards, he learned about the blast and rushed to the hospital.
When he arrived, he found Luqman’s body. The bodies of two children were also brought to the hospital shortly afterwards. The second child, Asad, aged around three-and-a-half, was Luqman’s nephew, Tanveer said.
Luqman, 37, worked as a laboratory technician and was also a volunteer with the Alkhidmat Foundation. He was involved in arranging blood for people in need and served as the organisation’s district blood-donation president, according to his family.
His friend Muhammad Maskeen, who was also injured in the blast, told BBC Urdu that Luqman had picked up his children from school and stopped to offer Friday prayers.
Maskeen said he had spoken to Luqman before the prayers and suggested that they meet afterwards to buy something for the children to eat and have tea together. “I went to pray, and I was in the middle of the mosque when the explosion suddenly occurred,” Maskeen said. He suffered minor injuries and was taken to hospital.
He later saw Luqman’s body being brought to the hospital, followed by the bodies of his children.
Luqman’s family described him as deeply committed to his children’s education.
Tanveer said Luqman had borrowed money to pay the admission fee for Abdullah’s school this year, telling him that he wanted his son to receive a good education and “become something in life”.
He also personally helped his eldest daughter with her studies and encouraged her to work hard and build her own future.
Luqman had lost his mother four months earlier and had since also been supporting and caring for his elderly father, Tanveer said.
The Kohat Old Police Lines terrorist attack during Friday prayers killed 23 people, including 17 security personnel. Security officials said several attackers were also killed during the subsequent clearance operation.
