Abid Farooq is not deterred by threats. He is often called into court to testify against terrorists whose bomb attacks he has foiled.

“Imagine, we are present in the same court as the terrorists, they can easily identify us,” he says. “They tell me, ‘don’t think even for a second that if we are inside, nothing can happen to you, our resources are vast,’ and that’s how they intimidate us.”

But Abid stands his ground and often tells them that he is just doing his job; a job that he loves very much.

Abid’s early years were spent in Lahore, where his father was also in the police force.

“My mother was very upset when my father decided to leave the force after serving for eight years to start his own business. I don’t think she ever got over that trauma.”

When the family moved to Karachi, he decided to enroll into the police academy.

“I made a decision at that time, that I will enter the police and will show them that even if my father was not able to do this job, I will be able to do it.”

Explore: Invisible Heroes