IN Pakistan, technological innovation has altered the nature of crime, yet law-enforcement remains mired in an outdated organisational structure, legal framework, and procedures, reflecting its colonial past. Former colonies with dense populations, like Pakistan, rely heavily on a numerical policing model. This approach is increasingly ineffective against the tougher challenges posed by globalisation and technological advancements. In contrast, org­­­a­nised criminals and terrorists are proficiently utilising technology for nefarious purposes. This scenario calls for a balanced approach, combining traditional numerical policing with innovative, technology-led solutions. Technology can be instrumental in enhancing interactive community relations and preventing and detecting crime.

Law enforcement faces new challenges due to disparities between external and internal security policies. Historically, negotiations with militants resulted in escalation of violence against police and negatively impacted the peace index. Bridging the gaps between internal and external security policies is crucial and needs effective communication coupled with a democratic ethos.

Historically, some administrative decisions, including administrative and police reforms, impacted the quality of law enforcement in Pakistan. Such decisions negatively impact policing standards and performance. For instance, the merger of FATA with KP increased the number of personnel in KP Police but posed new challenges. Likewise, converting ‘B’ areas into ‘A’ in Balochistan and reversing the decision in 2008 adversely impacted law enforcement. Since its inception, policing in Pakistan has been a contentious subject, oscillating between bureaucratic and political control, which has adversely affected organisational integrity, public interest, and safety.

Pakistan’s low ranking in the recent Rule of Law Index, particularly in categories like order and security, criminal justice, and human rights, underscores the urgent need for comprehensive reforms supported by political commitment, public backing, and increased funding.

The post-9/11 era has significantly increased the security duties of police, burdening them and affecting their preventive and investigative functions. Police Order, 2002, and KP Police Act, 2017, which provide a legal framework for external accountability, are yet to be fully implemented. The US exit from Afghanistan has facilitated militants’ access to advanced weaponry. KP Police’s establishment of an explosives handling school is a proactive measure in building capacity to counter these threats. However, the rise in militancy has also led to police becoming increasingly militarised, affecting public service delivery and widening the gap between police and community.

Police security duties have increased in the post-9/11 era.

Pakistan has seen the loss of thousands of police officers in the line of duty, reflecting the militants’ deadly proficiency. This situation necessitates a critical examination and improvement of police recruitment, training, and supervision processes. Additionally, the structural design of police stations, especially in areas located in the peripheries, has made them more vulnerable to militant attacks.

The ‘war on terror’ has also brought to light several human rights issues, tarnishing the image of the police as custodians of fundamental human rights. The widespr­e­­ad availability of weapons, influenced by both internal and external factors like preferential arms policies and a tribal and feudal social fabric, has aggravated challenges in crime, disorder, and terrorism. A comp­r­ehensive, long-term de-weaponisation strategy, in­­cluding the revision of arms policies and voluntary surrender of illegal arms, is imperative.

Pakistan’s tendency to over-legislate, often without effective enforcement, undermines the standards of governance. The gap between lawmaking and enforcement is particularly evident in laws where the police are direct or indirect stakeholders. Effective law enforcement demands stakeholder involvement in both the pre-enactment consultation and post-implementation review phases to ensure the effectiveness of laws.

To assess the quality of policing, a statistical approach is preferable over solely relying on public satisfaction metrics. The existing training facilities, including the National Police Academy, nine training colleges, and 22 schools, are inadequate to address the modern challenges faced by over 500,000 police personnel. Training modules need to be updated to cater to contemporary issues such as the nexus between militants and organised criminals, sectarian violence, and terror financing. Emphasis should be placed on capacity building and public satisfaction, with a shift towards short-duration, focused online training programmes.

The writer is author of Pakistan: In Between Extremism and Peace.

Twitter: @alibabakhel

Published in Dawn, December 30th, 2023