Abdul Rehman
Pakistanis have been passing through the sentiments of mistrust, and insecurity from the department of police. The police are a department that ensures the security and well- being of the masses, and people should be articulate and open with the police. Many of the developed countries have one of the most effective policing systems. Although we have copied a lot from the West and other developed countries, we have been very selective and backward in What to choose?
Today people in Pakistan see police as a symbol of threat, fear, and mistrust. The nation, which is developing and facing many other fierce issues, the police department should be there for common people as a symbol of security, trust and reliability.
Although we have been liberated from the British rule geographically and physically, but our minds are still in the cages of British rule and law. Most layman try to avoid bringing their issues to the police station, for fear of false reports, ill- treatment, and the surety of not getting a quick response.
Today the department of police has been suffering from various evils. One of the many evils is bribery. This is the main cause a common person cannot have quick justice and security. In this era money has become the source of happiness, a constable
cannot afford exemplary education, lifestyle, and food for his family in an inadequate salary given to him. In this case, those who have money can get quick and sure justice. This leads to mistrust and diversion in society. A common person began to divert towards “Waderas” who can use their influence and sort things out according to their way. This way local police lose their influence in the area and crime increases.
Political affiliation is another major issue that is a cause of great turmoil in the police department. In the age of the British empire, high ranks were allotted to their own trusted personnel, meanwhile, lower ranks were granted to local people. Hence common people would go to politically strong
people in the area for their ‘sefarish’ to get a lower rank job.
Since then that political affiliation can be seen in today’s police departments. A politically active person in the region can exert an immense influence over police stations. That influence can be in the form of transfer of those police officers who do not owe their obligations, or to exert power to release or abolish certain valid cases. Most of the time those officers who care about their careers and family do oblige political parties and personnel. Another issue is the ill-treatment of people, those who surrender or those captured by police. This leads to the humiliation of international human rights and raises feelings of enmity with the police department.
As we are familiar with Pakistan’s surroundings, which are not quite secure. If we look at the western borders several terrorist
organizations are actively involved in the trafficking of illegal weapons. Meanwhile, in the southern and eastern areas of Pakistan India’s borders are on the front of our doors.
Permanent criminals and many other people with negative mindsets enjoy high-tech, and modern weaponry. These weapons are the part of United forces left in Afghanistan after their withdrawal. Hence criminals are advanced in the case of weapons, meanwhile, our police forces are holding old weapons. This makes police personnel vulnerable to criminals’ firepower and therefore creates a fear among policemen.
Many of the common policemen in our police department do not know how to converse with people and create a bond of trust and comfort. This factor brings us to the education and training of policemen. A common police person does not hold that aura of trust and reliability that can bring a common citizen to him and report his issue. Our police stations present pictures of ruins in the middle of distant places. In simple words, our police stations are in very bad condition and need infrastructure. Those who visit a local police station are more likely never to want to go again there, even if they have little hope of getting a quick response. A police station is built for the common people’s welfare, but if it presents the picture of a macabre, no one is likely to visit it again.
If we want to see our country prosperous, then to start reforms from the police department is indeed a good investment. Many
major companies do not invest in Pakistan because of their lack of trust in their Security and peaceful environment in Pakistan. First and foremost, the government should increase the salary of policemen, and provide them monthly and yearly allowances; according to their performance. Many of the policemen suffer from overburdened duties, and lack of mental peace. The government should look at this and take quality time from police personnel rather than quantity time which cannot be exceptional. Moreover, the role of whistleblower should be appreciated to reduce corruption in the department. Police should be educated about the role of whistleblower, and the person should be kept confidential. Our police cannot work independently unless it is free from the threats of feudal lords and politically powerful people.
In this case. This issue needs an extensive set of reforms; eminently transfer of police officers should be kept on merit and, a regular check-balance system should be there to control favoritism. Additionally, police officers and lower ranks should be taught basic skills to control and handle situations with negotiation with common people to enhance trust and reliability in police. The main problem arises when the local police station is unable to solve the problem of a layman, then that layman goes to feudal lords which gives them influence more than a local police station. However, merely teaching etiquette and skills is not enough. Our police need modern weapons and technology to fight if needed and, to trace criminals’ activists to stop them from becoming another “Choto
Gang”. The government should invest in good weapons and also seek help from various developed countries’ police to arm our personnel in a better way. Furthermore, adequate investment should be made by the government to furnish and make police stations friendly place.
Author is a student of BS IR at National Defense University of Pakistan
