ONE has heard of multiple brutalities, like kidnapping for ransom and fake encounters, by Sindh police officials. Some have been found involved even in motorcycle and mobile snatching incidents. Recently, the situation took a further dip when some police constables allegedly killed a pet dog with a knife, and set the body afire before throwing it onto a garbage dump.

The incident occurred near Hill Park in Karachi, and the reason or motive behind this brutal attack was that the innocent dog had only dared to bark at certain officials, who, in their state of inebriation, considered it an insult to their egoistic selves.

As per the dog’s owner, a poor rickshaw driver, he got this Labrador as a gift when it was only a two-month-old puppy from an army major who was moving abroad. He had taken care of it like his own child as he has no child of his own.

About this barbaric act, he said he had complained to multiple officials, including the deputy inspector-general of police, East district, but to no avail. I convinced a high court lawyer to take up this case on a pro bono basis, and a petition (CrMA No. 1919/2023) has been filed.

I believe it will require much more than this. The authorities concerned should initiate an inquiry into the case, and take serious action against the culprits rather than just ‘suspending’ them, for these officials are psycholo-gically unfit to be in the police force. They are a threat to society. Besides, animal rights activists and organisa-tions should actively pursue the case.

Aqsa Farooq
Karachi

Published in Dawn, July 2nd, 2023