JHANG, Dec 16: The district police were the first in the province to separate the functions of watch-and-ward and investigation under the Police Order 2002, but they gradually reverted to the old system, creating problems for justice seekers in criminal cases.

Soon after its announcement, the new Police Order was implemented in letter and spirit in the Jhang district, and this made citizens think that an era of honest policing had arrived, which would be aimed at stamping out crime through impartial investigation of criminal cases by an independent agency unconcerned with the time-consuming functions of night-long patrols and other watch-and-ward duties.

Intelligent and efficient police officers, enjoying good reputation, were posted in the investigation wing in various police stations. The colour of their caps was changed to give them a separate identity. An officer of the rank of SP was posted to head the newly commissioned establishment.

The separation worked for some nine months and proved a big success, with investigation of all cases being done by officers posted specifically for this purpose and the SHO, SDPO and DPO having nothing to do with it. However, the transfer of district police officer and retirement of the SP for investigation came about almost simultaneously and coincided with the arrival of MNAs and MPAs on the scene after the general election. The post of SP for investigation remained vacant for a long time while the new DPO put the system into the reverse gear. The new DPO not only started marking cases for investigation by SDPOs and SHOs but also began taking up cases himself in violation of the Police Order.

Section 5 of the Police Order states that the DPO shall not interfere with the process of investigation. The head of investigation shall, however, keep the DPO informed of the progress of all such cases that have a bearing on public order. The DPO shall provide full support to the head of investigation in performance of his duties.

Even the change of investigation officer is in the hands of DPO despite the fact that Section 6 of the Police Order 2002 clearly prohibits the DPO from doing so. According to the section, an investigation officer shall not be changed except after deliberations and recommendations by a board headed by an officer not below the rank of SSP and two SPs in charge of investigation in the concerned district.

Recently, an SP and a DSP have been posted in the investigation wing in Jhang, but no personnel have been posted in the investigation wing in police stations and the SHOs and their subordinate staff continue to be entrusted with the responsibility of investigation.

The situation has not only affected the original duties of watch-and-ward officials, it is also against the very spirit of Police Order and is apparently aimed at not only foiling the new police order but unhinging the entire devolution plan as envisaged by the National Reconstruction Bureau.