Comments on: Police: an isolated force

By: Syed A, Zafar USA

Syed A, Zafar USA — Sat, 26 Jan 2013 18:47:43 +0000

Although the writer has highlighted few policing problems quite honestly, but I differ from him on few things. We can not and should not compare motor way police from regular police, because of many reasons. 1. There is no doubt motorway police is relatively better but it is because of the founding efforts and brilliance of an exceptionally honest high ranking police officer, and of course it was primarily focused to secure the capital and provide safety to high ranking officers of the government, institutions and foreign diplomats who live in there. 2, it is true that there should be communication and co-operation between public and the police, but the society we live in, does not provide our public the opportunity to have a say or become partner of police. Public is only used when it is needed, and it is not provided full security in case it helps police in detecting crimes and criminals. I quite agree with the comments of Sima and other commentators. However, in order to identify the true problems and failure of our police, we have to find its true root causes and avoid giving traditional answers to our police’s failure. Let me pin point few things which are major obstacle in the way of police reforms in my opinion.

1. The biggest obstacle in the way of police reforms in my opinion, is the federal control and command over local/provincial police besides its power of transferring, posting and promoting outside high ranking officers who neither know the culture and problems of other regions, nor sincere to resolve their problems. Also the unnecessary interference/influences of other institutions like our military, judiciary etc is a big factor behind the failure of our police system. The local police must be independent and served by the local people only. Because they are born there, know their problems, they can handle it better and they are more sincere than outsiders who are bound to serve the interests of their outside masters. 2. Our military officers must be barred from joining police through deputation or after their retirement. 3. All the police officers must start from bottom up and their promotions must depend on their performance, level of education and record of their good character. The last but not least, this Police Superior Service thing must be abolished because it is the mother of all problems in our police system. It provides chances of corruption, misuse of power, encourages to adopt culture of imperialism and sense of false superiority over general public and to become tool of rich and powerful politicians and feudal lords. It starts from top. zafarsyed40@yahoo.com

By: Agha Ata (USA)

Agha Ata (USA) — Sat, 26 Jan 2013 17:18:15 +0000

No.

By: Vigilant

Vigilant — Sat, 26 Jan 2013 15:42:57 +0000

I agree with author that we as a nation must recognize police scarifies to protect citizens and better people to police relationship is necessity of the day but i want to inquire how many times author who himself is high-ranking police officer was part of awareness campaign in schools or educational institutions???
During my whole student life never heard or saw awareness campaign regarding what police do & difficulties they face???
Pakistan police need grass root as well as policy & structural changes. All recently recruited police constables are graduates but some other lucky ones with similar education are CSP officers & constitute elite cadres of police force.
Even-one must be hired as graduate & make his or her from constable to top positions.

By: G.A.

G.A. — Sat, 26 Jan 2013 15:28:54 +0000

There are good and bad cops even in Pakistan. Question is how many times have Pakistanis walked over to bunch of policemen standing in the heat and offered them cold water? How many times have people of a community gathered together and walked over to their local police station to offer food or medicine? They are humans too and dirt poor. Take care of them and they’ll take care of your communities. Really doesn’t take much and it’s worth a try.

By: shafiquk

shafiquk — Sat, 26 Jan 2013 12:48:17 +0000

A very genuine assessment. In my view our police needs more in depth training and forensic support to be able to match the challenges of today.

By: Sima

Sima — Sat, 26 Jan 2013 11:09:37 +0000

so to do, many things can be done. there are many policing models, besides UK, that are providing good services but who will do that?? The top bosses of Police force, in the first place, are themselves not interested to reform or restructure the force for they will have TO WORK to be promoted. For the time being they don’t have to work and they still get promoted. In addition, the bureaucracy will never let the reforms take place for its vested interests. While, the current lot of myopic politicians neither have the vision of take appropriate decisions to ensure safety and security of the citizen of Pakistan nor are keen to withdraw sometime from doubling personal profits. Moreover, if the police is reformed and becomes public service oriented, politicians and bureaucrats will be its first catch. Lastly, Army Officers will also not be able to carry out any further attacks on Police Stations and conquer them.
Bottom line is, INTRODUCE POLICE REFORMS by addressing its mother of malaise issue of the cadre system.

By: farmerdr

farmerdr — Fri, 25 Jan 2013 15:24:44 +0000

Thana culture can be abolished in a blink by senior Police officers if politicians do not intervene.

By: farmerdr

farmerdr — Fri, 25 Jan 2013 15:20:44 +0000

Absolutely correct. Transparently fair and quick decision making on objective criteria by a mechanism whose due process cannot be influenced or perverted by personal whim of anyone whether PM, CM, IG, DIG, CS, General or Judge is highly desirable. Postings and deferred promotions on unfair grounds are highly demoralizing and lead to dis-affection from duty, inefficiency and submission to pressures against justice.

By: Agha Ata (USA)

Agha Ata (USA) — Fri, 25 Jan 2013 15:00:18 +0000

You mentioned of colonial masters and police designed as a force to fight the public, but I may mention that police was at least hundred times better than it is now. If you were not against the government you were as safe as Zardari, all the times.
You never heard of muk mukas, rishvat at such high scale, and killing opponents in police muqabla. The British did use police to maintain law and order when public created a problem for the rulers, but police was a lot better in many ways.
One rule might help our leaders to keep in mind, authority and money in hands of illiterate or ignorant person is a deadly evil. He may be a policeman on petrol in a city or an MP. Solution: Recruit educated people in POLICE. Otherwise police would always be as isolated in the country as Pakistan is in the world.

By: Afridi

Afridi — Fri, 25 Jan 2013 14:34:24 +0000

The precondition for the emergence of the police officer as a credible friendly figure is the professionalisation of the police,who could operate democratically ,without politicisation,with the community consent and according to the rule of law.