What is wrong with our police?

Waqas Khan |

Recent events like child molestation and their subsequent murders and the appalling extrajudicial killings of youngsters have brought the inefficiency and the inability of the police department to the fore and have occupied a portion of public talks and various media channels’ attention – both print and electronic. 

This is particularly alarming to see that the savior of the citizens have turned to be their killers as it could be imminently seen that the police was firing directly at the Kasur protesters who were using their very legal right to demonstrate their ire and disappointment at the apathetic and casual behavior of police being unable to give the required concentration to bring the criminals before the court.

In this way we can expect that an element of courtesy will be ingrained in the general behavior of the regular policeman and along with it one could lay his belief in their abilities to investigate and dispense justice to the aggrieved party. 

Almost two weeks have passed since little Zainab became victim of the barbarous and inhumane mindset of a pedophile while the police are still clueless about the whereabouts of the perpetrator, showing a complete professional emptiness existing within this department. The most saddening part about the performance of the police is their abandoning of the basic human qualities like mercy and compassion. 

Similar gruesome incidents can be seen in Karachi where in a short period of time two young boys have become victim of the callous behavior of the police. Any car driver who accidently doesn’t stop at a check post or if he fails to answer questions, seems to become qualified in the eyes of the police constable as a suspected terrorist and annihilating him becomes the police’s state duty without following the legal course of action.

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Labeling Naqeeb Ullah Mehsud, who was earlier picked up by Karachi police and later killed in an encounter, as a terrorist without any substantial evidence and throwing allegations regarding his possession of extravagant financial balance, is utterly deplorable as no law permits the killing of any person without giving him time and a suitable platform to prove his innocence.

 On an immediate basis, the government needs to work toward emancipating the police from the holds of local politicians and setting rules and regulations while giving them proper training.

Why has the situation reached such an extent that the parents of Zainab are demanding justice from the army and judiciary and not the police or provincial government?  Have people lost all their faith in the conduct of the police? Perhaps these are the questions that start coming to mind after witnessing past events which have greatly unveiled the internal incompetency and ineptness pervasive in the police department. 

If we ask why the police have become impotent and indifferent to the plights of citizens, instantaneously an answer starts appearing in our minds. The political intervention in the department has taken away the realization of its fundamental duties that it is obliged to dispense. When politicians start using the police for their personal vested interests, it indirectly affects their performance as a gulf between them and the citizens appears, making the police forget how to operate in different situations. 

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Moreover besides the politicized nature, the element of humanity and courtesy is missing from the conduct of the police. How can one human being dare to directly fire at innocent and unarmed citizens when maintaining their safety is their principle function? 

Any car driver who accidently doesn’t stop at a check post or if he fails to answer questions, seems to become qualified in the eyes of the police constable as a suspected terrorist and annihilating.

This aspect is more woeful and condemnable that slowly and gradually the attributes of kindness and compassion are vanishing from our society and instead cruelty and savagery are the qualities by which we coming to be known. On an immediate basis, the government needs to work toward emancipating the police from the holds of local politicians and setting rules and regulations while giving them proper training.

Read more: Rawalpindi-Islamabad residents helpless as police fail to dislodge protesters from Faizabad…

I would also suggest that ethical and moral training should be given to not only low ranking police constables but also to the officers. In this way we can expect that an element of courtesy will be ingrained in the general behavior of the regular policeman and along with it one could lay his belief in their abilities to investigate and dispense justice to the aggrieved party. 

Writer is a student of International Relations at Quaid-i-university Islamabad. The views expressed in this article are authors own and do not necessarily reflect the editorial policy of Global Village Space.