Reema Shaukat
US Professor of Civil Rights, Mary Frances Berry once quoted, “When you have police officers who abuse citizens, you erode public confidence in law enforcement. That makes the job of good police officers unsafeâ€. This principle of submissiveness by police is applied world over. A police force is a constituted body of persons empowered by the state to enforce law, protect property and limit civil disorder. Their powers include the legitimised use of force. Police forces are often defined as being separate from military or other organizations involved in the defence of state against foreign aggressors.In Pakistan, there is a mixed perception about police force. Generally speaking common perception is that police force is inhumane and they do not take care of common people nor justice is provided to them if a common man seeks police help in police stations. With the wave of terrorism which hit Pakistan mercilessly, Police force equally suffered in terms of human losses, resources and infrastructure. The question arises is the police force weak enough that they can’t meet up their job requirements or it is denial of their rights somewhere in system that they are not performing their jobs well?History narrates that though Pakistan was created in 1947 but despite several years of its formation, the internal crises and differences which vary from ethnic clashes to political instability and development, policy makers and decision makers greatly ignored police reforms. Since police services directly come under govt domain so often high cadre and capable police officials which rose to an accomplished level, fail to bring needed reforms in their structure. Several political parties in their political manifestos prioritize about police reforms but when part of power they forget about needs of police and other associated organs too. Hence, core efforts to build a stronger police force are noticeable but limited in scope. In this regard, it is observed that a rise in police salaries in some provinces is a positive step but surely not an all-rounder stride to improve police work. The quality of the curriculum in Pakistan’s police training schools is in need of serious improvement as the training courses do not properly cover the topics regarding interrogation, victimology and the treatment of susceptible individuals.Apart from lack in curriculum, though police forces have quality personnel but the law enforcement agencies lack technological resources to combat miscreants. The National Counter Terrorism Authority (NACTA), established in 2009, seemed to be a promising step in the direction of coordinating and integrating the national counter terrorism effort between the military and the police, but the organization failed to take off as a result of political squabbling. Though after 2014 APS attack major amendments were made and efforts were incorporated from all sectors to curb militancy yet the effectiveness is questioned. To build better image of police it is important to have good public relations for their success too. This is especially relevant with regard to the treatment of women, children, and minorities. The average Pakistani citizen does not trust the police. In its capacity to public connexion, media can be an effective tool.Several advertisements, documentaries and other public service message can help in making better rapport. Apart from this corruption, bad evils or poor performances by police can be exposed by media. Particularly in combating terrorism, many police officials have laid their lives in the line of duty with full honour and commitment and such stories be highlighted. Necessity in present police reforms requires that an improvement in working conditions and salaries and changes to organizational culture would help to create a force that is respected by the people and thus is more effective in maintaining security and stability. Police must be provided with technology needed to combat criminals and terrorists and should have better tools through which they can access terrorists’ communications, mobile tracking systems, and telephone call data analysis.
The objective of police reform is largely achievable through implementation of Police Order 2002, with minor amendments, throughout the country, including the provinces of Sindh and Balochistan, the federal capital of Islamabad, Gilgit-Baltistan, and Azad Jammu and Kashmir. In due course, the Order should be extended to the Federally Administered Tribal Areas as well so that the whole country is governed under a common set of rules. Therefore, to regain public trust on police and improvement in the rule of law, government needs to bring changes within the system and address improper influences.
