Naveed Iqbal was considered a ‘public-friendly’ cop
Zubair Qureshi Islamabad
In Friday night’s catastrophe that left 22 tourists dead and thousands stranded on roads to Murree, the Islamabad Police lost one of its best cops, Assistant Sub-Inspector Naveed Iqbal who enjoyed a repute of ‘public-friendly’ police officer.
ASI Naveed Iqbal, his three daughters, a son, sister and sister’s daughter (niece), all seven died Friday night trapped inside their car due to the chilly weather and heavy snowfall.
The unlucky cop who was trapped along with family inside the vehicle for more than 22 hours made a number of SOS calls to the administration, local rescue department, friends and relatives but all in vain. He also tried desperately to find some point of exit or place where they could take refuge but nothing worked.
According to the Islamabad police spokesperson, senior police officers and SHO of Kohsar Police reached Naveed Iqbal’s house to console the family of the deceased. We are with the family in this hour of difficulty, he said.
Naveed Iqbal was an efficient police officer of the Kohsar Police and enjoyed a reputation as a very kind and cooperative cop of Islamabad.
On the directions of Inspector General of Police Islamabad, Ahsan Younas, three ambulances have been dispatched to Murree to bring back the dead bodies, the police spokesperson said.
Tayyib Gondal, a cousin of Naveed Iqbal while talking to Pakistan Observer said Naveed Iqbal had called him and told them their car was stuck for more than 22 hours and they were feeling exhausted. “The children have run short of food, water and there seems to be no end to this snowfall,” Tayyib said, quoting Naveed’s last minute call.
By the time I could reach, they had died inside their car, he said. Naveed Iqbal’s professionalism and devotion to work were matchless qualities, said a media colleague while recalling several incidents when he chanced to interact with him.
Naveed was always very forthcoming, very responsive and helped the media colleagues whenever he needed some information regarding incidents of crime in his area or even in the area that was behind his jurisdiction. His information was always exact and very useful for making a good story, he said.
