Chief Justice of Pakistan, Justice Gulzar Ahmed on Thursday directed all Inspector General of Police (IGPs) to verify the educational degrees of all police officers across the country. A meeting of the Police Reforms Committee (PRC) was held in Islamabad under the chairmanship of CJP Justice Gulzar Ahmed. The meeting was attended by Justice Umar Ata Bandial, all IGPs and other members of the committee.
During the meeting, the Chief Justice directed concerned IGPs to start the process of verifying educational degrees with PSP officers. The CJP ordered IGPs to check the educational degrees and certificates of all police officers across the country.
Lots of grade 18 & 19 officers that have been in these positions for years and, oddly, don't seem to be going anywhere any time soon… I think it's time for police/judicial reforms, Constitutional amendments and a Presidential system. Pakistan is heading that way anyhow. https://t.co/WssYVFluhg
— Cynthia D. Ritchie (@CynthiaDRitchie) February 14, 2021
Speaking on the occasion, the CJP said that there is a need of improving the investigation skills of police officers, adding that only IGPs should have the right to approve transfers.
In the meeting, Punjab IGP said the police department was facing difficulty due to a ban imposed on the purchase of vehicles.
Replying to the Punjab IGP question, the chief justice said the ban had been imposed on the purchase of luxury vehicles only. The CJP also directed IGPs to end the unnecessary use of government vehicles by police officers.
Analysts maintain that PTI’s government did not focus on reforming police. Abdul Sattar, columnist and journalist, recently noted that “Let us begin with the independence of the police department and the current ruling elite’s claim to put an end to political influence. Soon after the government came into power, the DPO of Pakpattan was transferred – some say for merely doing his duty – something that shocked many admirers of Khan.
The ex-IG of Khyber Pakhtunkhwa Nasir Durrani, who was tasked to carry out reforms in the Punjab police, resigned after what critics said was interference by politicians. This further fuelled suspicions about the claims made by the new government; and later developments seemed to have vindicated them.
The Islamabad police came under tremendous pressure when reportedly people belonging to federal minister Azam Swati’s side beat up a poor family close to the minister’s farm house. Interestingly the minister admitted to have encroached upon a few kanals of CDA land.”
Read more: Punjab, Sindh continue to evade police reform
But the latest development has given new hope to the people of Punjab in a way that ensures that the incumbent government is concerned about the police reforms and working closely on the subject. Sources claim that the project of de-politicization of police in Punjab became even more difficult because of the attitude of local leaders who still believe that without accommodative police in the province, it is not possible to ensure the functioning of the government.
In initial meetings with members of the provincial assembly, the Prime Minister was also informed that Punjab has different political dynamics and cultural backgrounds as compared to KP. Therefore, it required an entirely new set of policies to get reformed.