On the solemn occasion of Police Martyrs’ Day, observed every year on August 4 to commemorate the supreme sacrifice of former Frontier Constabulary Commandant Safwat Ghayur Shaheed, the Khyber Pakhtunkhwa Police pays heartfelt tribute to all its brave officers and personnel who have laid down their lives in the line of duty while protecting the people, defending the rule of law, and safeguarding the peace and security of Pakistan.
This year’s observance comes at a particularly challenging time for the force. The first seven months of 2026 have already emerged as the deadliest comparable period in the history of the Khyber Pakhtunkhwa Police, with 156 police personnel embracing martyrdom in terrorist attacks across the province. The unprecedented loss reflects the growing intensity of security threats confronting law enforcement agencies and highlights the extraordinary courage demonstrated by police officers serving on the frontlines of the fight against terrorism.
Since the resurgence of terrorism in 2021, Khyber Pakhtunkhwa has witnessed a sustained increase in attacks targeting police and security forces. During recent weeks alone, police personnel have come under major attacks in Hangu, Swat, Bannu, North Waziristan, Peshawar, and several other districts of the province. The southern districts, in particular, have experienced a significant escalation in terrorist violence over the past five years. On Sunday alone, terrorists launched multiple attacks against the police, including a suicide bombing in Kabal, Swat, an improvised explosive device (IED) blast in Peshawar, an armed ambush in North Waziristan, and a quadcopter attack in Hangu. These incidents illustrate the evolving tactics employed by terrorist groups and underscore the persistent dangers faced daily by police officers performing their constitutional responsibilities.
According to data compiled by the Central Police Office (CPO), 2025 became the deadliest complete year in the history of the Khyber Pakhtunkhwa Police, with 235 police personnel sacrificing their lives in the line of duty. The figures also demonstrate a worrying upward trend in recent years. While 63 policemen were martyred in 2021, the number rose to 93 in 2022, before increasing sharply to 197 in 2023. In 2024, the force lost 169 personnel, followed by the record 235 martyrs in 2025. With 156 policemen already martyred during the first seven months of 2026, the current year is on course to become one of the deadliest periods ever recorded for the KP Police.
Before the recent resurgence of terrorism, 2009 had remained the deadliest year in the force’s history, during which 211 policemen embraced martyrdom at the height of militant violence. The 197 martyrs recorded in 2023 represented the third-highest annual casualty figure in the history of the Khyber Pakhtunkhwa Police. Officials have also noted that discrepancies in casualty figures reported over previous years resulted from differences in data compilation, with earlier records in some instances accounting only for district police personnel while inadvertently excluding members of specialised police units.
Historical data maintained by the Central Police Office reflects the tremendous sacrifices made by the force throughout the country’s campaign against terrorism. The KP Police lost 17 personnel in 2001, another 17 in 2002, 26 in 2003, 24 in 2004, 13 in 2005, and 27 in 2006. As terrorism intensified, the annual toll rose dramatically to 101 martyrs in 2007, 172 in 2008, and 211 in 2009. The force subsequently lost 108 policemen in 2010, 154 in 2011, 106 in 2012, 135 in 2013, and 111 in 2014.
Following major counterterrorism operations, the security environment improved considerably for several years, resulting in comparatively lower casualty figures. During this period, 61 policemen were martyred in 2015, 74 in 2016, 36 in 2017, 31 in 2018, 42 in 2019, and 40 in 2020. However, this period of relative stability ended with the emergence of a second wave of terrorism beginning in 2021, once again placing the Khyber Pakhtunkhwa Police at the forefront of the country’s counterterrorism efforts.
Since 2001, 2,413 officers and personnel of the Khyber Pakhtunkhwa Police have sacrificed their lives in the line of duty while combating terrorism and protecting the lives and property of citizens. When combined with the 246 policemen who embraced martyrdom between 1970 and 2000, the total number of police martyrs in the history of the force has reached 2,659. These figures represent not merely statistics but thousands of stories of courage, sacrifice, dedication, and unwavering commitment to public service.
The burden of terrorism has been particularly severe in several districts of the province. According to the Central Police Office, Peshawar has recorded the highest number of police martyrs, with 386 personnel sacrificing their lives, followed by Bannu with 265 martyrs and Dera Ismail Khan with 249 martyrs. A substantial proportion of these sacrifices has occurred during the latest wave of violence that began in 2021, reflecting the continued operational challenges faced by police officers deployed in these high-risk districts.
The sacrifices made by the Khyber Pakhtunkhwa Police extend across every rank of the organisation. Among the 2,659 martyrs, 1,906 were constables, 346 were head constables, 157 were assistant sub-inspectors, 161 were sub-inspectors, and 54 were inspectors. The force has also lost some of its most distinguished leaders, including two Additional Inspectors General of Police—Safwat Ghayur Shaheed and Ashraf Noor Shaheed—two Deputy Inspectors General, Malik Muhammad Saad Shaheed and Abid Ali Shaheed, one Senior Superintendent of Police, six Superintendents of Police, one Assistant Superintendent of Police, and twenty-four Deputy Superintendents of Police/Acting Superintendents of Police. Their sacrifices stand as enduring symbols of exemplary leadership, courage, and devotion to duty.
Among the darkest chapters in the history of the Khyber Pakhtunkhwa Police remains the devastating terrorist attack at the Police Lines Headquarters in Peshawar on 30 January 2023. During Zuhr prayers, a suicide bomber detonated explosives inside the mosque located within the Police Lines complex, which had been named in honour of martyred police officer Malik Muhammad Saad Shaheed. The attack claimed the lives of approximately 86 police personnel and left more than 200 others injured, making it the deadliest terrorist attack ever directed against the KP Police. While some reports suggested the death toll approached one hundred, no official confirmation of those figures was issued. The tragedy remains a painful reminder of the extraordinary sacrifices made by police officers in the service of the nation.
As Pakistan marks Police Martyrs’ Day, the Khyber Pakhtunkhwa Police renews its unwavering commitment to honour the memory of every fallen hero by continuing their mission with courage, professionalism, and determination. The sacrifices of the force’s martyrs have strengthened the foundations of peace, protected democratic institutions, and reinforced the resolve of every serving officer to confront terrorism without fear or compromise.
Today, the nation bows its head in respect before the brave sons of Khyber Pakhtunkhwa Police whose courage, patriotism, and selfless devotion have become a lasting symbol of resilience and national pride. Their legacy will continue to inspire future generations of police officers to serve with honour, integrity, and unwavering commitment to the security and prosperity of Pakistan.
