I have been induced to craft a write-up after the brutal and inhuman incident of Sahiwal. It is without ambiguity that it was a miscalculated operation and the perpetrators of this massacre should be dealt with iron hands. In aftermath of this appalling incident, a debate has been waged in media and other sections about Police reforms. Why Police Reforms echoed now? Was a bloodshed perquisite for reforms? Why Police department is labeled as stinky department? The answers are eagerly waiting for high ups. The honourable Premier Imran Khan has repeatedly pledged to nation about Police reforms in his public speeches and rallies. But after assuming the mantle of Premiership he might has forgotten his tall claims and promises about police department. The question arises which reforms? Reforms for the already ruling PSP’s that are selected through CSS exams? The answer is the reforms in entire department that start from the grass root level. This is the dilemma of Police department and the concerned authorities that there is not one way to recruit personals in department. Some are hired through CSS aka PSP’s and the others are recruited through PPSC that are known as Junior ranked officers. In democratic and developed countries like UK there is only one method to hire personals in department and that officers attain the highest authority. This is a moot point but now come to Police reforms. There should be no doubt about it that Ig Police should be a maverick person, having complete independence in administrative matters. The transfers and postings should only be the prerogative of Ig police. The government should only be concerned about performance. But are these enough reforms? The head will shake in a big no. In our colonial police system, the public get interacted to Junior Police officers aka ‘Thanedars’ for their grievances. When the word ‘Thanedar’ comes in everyone’s mind a typical and grotesque image is created. That is called mistrust between police and public. The laymen have to go to police stations to register their complaints. This is also a bitter truth that some junior officers devoid of moral and ethical values and the treatment meted out to people by them is condemnable. But there are also honest and talented junior officers that break this myth that ‘Thanedar’ will always look like ‘ Maula Jutt’. The erstwhile CM Punjab Shahbaz Sharif has taken praiseworthy measure by recruiting the young, vibrant, highly talented and fresh blood through a long scrutiny of PPSC. More than 1500 Sub- Inspectors have been selected through PPSC in a past few years. Some of them are Mphill, engineers,doctors, law graduates, media students and even gold medallists who have joined Police department. It is also a startling situation that in a large number of educated Sub-Inspectors have resigned due to poor structure at grass root level and the condescending attitudes of high ups of Police department. It is dire need to bring reforms at grass root level So that this fresh blood can’t fed up from Police. The reforms should also be about the elimination of political clout, proper promotional structure of Junior officers, latest investigation methods and technology, enhancing professionalism, duty timings, weekly leaves and the perks and privileges as being enjoyed by PSP’s. The tainted image of Police department can only be refurbished if the immediate steps for police reforms are taken. Media being as the fourth pillar of state should also pay its pivotal role in shortening this misunderstanding between public and police. Hope so, Pti government will fulfil its promises being made to people about police and other department’s reforms.
Writer : Chaudhary Hassan Ahmad Warraich
