Our police is hardly a professional body, acting as an extra centre of political power.PARTICIPANTS at Shehri’s interactive seminar have suggested that civil society should lobby the authorities on police reforms. This is a valid proposal given the need for greater security and better law and order in Karachi. There is no denying that the working of our police leaves much to be desired. This has been felt for a long time. However, it was only in 2002 that an attempt was made to reform the force. But even before the Police Order 2002 could be implemented amendments began to be introduced to dilute its effectiveness. In its present form, the order does not reflect the spirit of reform. The basic drawback to efficient police performance, apart from factors such as lack of training and equipment as well as corruption, is political interference. It is routine for the executive branch of government to exploit the powers of the police to promote the narrow interests of rulers. As a result, Pakistan’s police is hardly a professional body. It acts as yet another centre of political power.
The Police Order 2002 had sought to correct this aberration by introducing two bodies: the public safety commission and the police complaints authority, both at different tiers. By providing for the appointment of members who are independent and hold diverse political opinions to these bodies and empowering them to oversee the working of the police force and look into public complaints, the order sought to bring the law enforcers under the watch of an independent monitor to weaken the government’s capacity to interfere. But what do we have today? Ineffective safety commissions, if they exist, and complaints authorities merging with safety commissions so that the latter have ceased to function as forums for the redress of public grievances. The powers of the safety commissions in matters of appointments, transfers and promotions — all key tools in manipulating the police — have also been diluted. The immediate need of the hour is to have the amendments to the Police Order revoked so that reforms can be implemented in their true spirit. It needs to be recognised that the failure of the police to act professionally and efficiently not only affects the level of security in the country, it also has an adverse impact on the working of the judicial system. Without good and honest investigation, the prosecution is weakened and justice cannot be dispensed.
The Police Order 2002 had sought to correct this aberration by introducing two bodies: the public safety commission and the police complaints authority, both at different tiers. By providing for the appointment of members who are independent and hold diverse political opinions to these bodies and empowering them to oversee the working of the police force and look into public complaints, the order sought to bring the law enforcers under the watch of an independent monitor to weaken the government’s capacity to interfere. But what do we have today? Ineffective safety commissions, if they exist, and complaints authorities merging with safety commissions so that the latter have ceased to function as forums for the redress of public grievances. The powers of the safety commissions in matters of appointments, transfers and promotions — all key tools in manipulating the police — have also been diluted. The immediate need of the hour is to have the amendments to the Police Order revoked so that reforms can be implemented in their true spirit. It needs to be recognised that the failure of the police to act professionally and efficiently not only affects the level of security in the country, it also has an adverse impact on the working of the judicial system. Without good and honest investigation, the prosecution is weakened and justice cannot be dispensed.
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