a. Evolution of police culture
Police system as devised by British rulers in India was responsible for the maintenance of law and order in the society. The duties of the police officer in a formal sense were executing orders and warrants; collecting and communicating upward intelligence concerning public order; preventing crime; and detecting, apprehending, and arresting criminals. These duties were specified in Article 23 of the Indian Police Act of 1861, which (together with revisions dating from 1888 and the Police Rules of 1934), is still the basic document for police activity in Pakistan. However, the system of policing was strongly influenced by the elite mindset in the country and the masses were knowingly neglected for services. police are indeed the custodian of law and have to respond to control crimes, emergency and provide support to administer justice (Eck & Rosenbaum,1994), but the unwanted control of the elite on the police system created a gap between various segments of the society, due to which poor sections of the society became largely marginalized and underrepresented.
1. Police Reforms after Post 1947
The importance of policing in Pakistan was felt by the founding fathers and hence the first change was introduced in 1948 by Muhammad Ali Jinnah as stated by (Suddle, 2002; Abbas, 2009). Thereafter, various reforms were made by various governments details of which are as follows;
2. The 1951 Reforms
The 1951 reforms Committee was headed by Sir Oliver Gilbert Grace, (Inspector General of KPK) who recommended a change in the Karachi Police’s setup. This was the first committee which recommended to bring changes in the affairs of the police system in the country (Access to Justice Report, 2006).
3. The 1960-1961 Reforms in the Police System:
In the year 1960, a commission of the Pakistan Police which was led by Justice J.B. Constantine visited India for analyzing and devising a model for the Karachi police. However, no such recommendations were approved due to the shifting of capital to Islamabad
4. The 1961-62 Reforms
The mentioned reforms were made by Justice Cornelius through Pay and Services Reorganization Committee. The committee worked for introducing the metropolitan police system in Lahore and Karachi but failed to initiate any action in this regard as stated by Suddle (2002). Another reason was the imposition of martial law by Ayub Khan that affected the role of police in effective management of the rule of law.
5. Reform of 1968-70
According the Suddle (2002), the first major change was introduced by Major General A.O. Mitha where he separated the Superintendent of Police from the control of the District Magistrate. The powers of both were redefined to work separately and independently. This reform brought change in the administrative structure of police system in Pakistan.
6. Reforms in Police in 1972
In 1972, the government was interested to bring change in police system at the federal level to deal with the issues of currency, narcotics, smuggling, illegal immigrants and issues related to passport etc (Syed, 1992). In this regard, Mr. G. Ahmad (a senior civil servant) gave recommendations for Federal level Police organization to the government which consequently, in 1975, led to the formation of the Federal Investigation Authority to deal with such issues (Federal Investigation Agency, 2011). Several police officers were send to home due to the implementation of the mentioned reforms but still, the system was under the influence of the political pressure (Crisis Group Asia Report, 2008).
7. Police reforms in 1976
In 1976, reforms were introduced in the existing police system of the time and various committees were constituted for this purpose. In this regard, according to Suddle (2002), a Police Station Enquiry Committee was convened by M.A.K. Chaudhry and Chaudhary Fazal Haque was appointed to head the law and order subcommittee, as well as a police reform committee worked under Rafi Raza. Similarly, police training was also given full consideration in terms of foreign visits and training programs. Special services of Mr. Giles were obtained for training assessment of the police system ((Access to Justice Report, 2006).
8. Reforms of 1981-83
During 1981 the Orakzai Committee was constituted for probing the issue of Police Welfare, Promotion and devising the Seniority Rules for police system (Ayub, 2009). It was in the year 1982, that the Cabinet Committee on the Emoluments of SHO was formed. Further, in 1983, again the Cabinet Committee to Determine the Status of SHO was constituted while in 1982-83 another committee known as Sahibzada Rauf Ali Committee was formed to study improvement in the status of police system and to provide trainings and logistics for smooth functioning.
9. Reforms in 1985
During Zia period (in 1985), a committee under the supervision of Mr. Aslam Hayat, was constituted (known as the 1985 Police Committee) where the said committee gave its recommendation for promotion of metropolitan policing and police system for 50 thousand and more people (Ayub, 2009; Crisis Group Asia Reports, 2003 and 2005). Besides, during 1987, the government sent an official delegation to India and Bangladesh to study police system that recommended the metropolitan type of policing in all big cities of the country (Suddle, 2002). However, due to the non-continuity of the government, no such improvement came in the overall system of the policing in the country (Crisis Group Asia Reports, 2002).
10. Police Reforms in 1989-1999
During the year 1989, During Benizir Bhutto regime, a visit of the committee was arranged to study policing and police system Bangladesh and India for promotion of policing in Pakistan. According to Suddle, (2002), the mentioned committee agreed to abolish the Police Act of 1861. Besides, Richard Barratt along-with the few members' delegation also visited Pakistan in 1990, and recommended the abolition of the 1861 Police Act which to them was the main reason behind the weak police system in the country (ADB, 2011; PILDAT, 2015). During 1990, the M.A.K. Chauhdary, committee for Police Reforms also proposed the conversion of the capital police into a metropolitan force on emergency basis while in the year 1995, the UN Inter-regional Advisor for Crime Prevention and Criminal Justice for Pakistan recommended the introduction of police reforms by the political leadership at various levels including both the rural and urban areas (Federal Investigation Agency, 2011). Similarly, in the year 1996, Director General of National Police Agency Japan i.e. Mr. Sekine, while studying the police system in Pakistan devised a policy for police system to focus on public service while in 1997, a study was conducted by the Law and Justice Commission on the reforms in police system and gave their recommendation for improvement in police functioning in the provision of justice system (Suddle, 2002). In the year 1998, the Good Governance Group on Police Reforms or the police Committee Vision 2010 recommended meritocracy in the police system while the military government of Pervez Musharraf proposed a National Reconstruction Bureau which introduced several reforms in the current system (Grare, 2010).
11. The police reforms from 1999 to the Present
According to Suddle, (2002), in the year 2000 (in February) during the Musharraf Era, a focal group was assigned the task for reforms in the police system. The Committee submitted its findings to the National Reconstruction Bureau and it was for the first time that in the year 2002, the new police order was implemented to replace 1861 Police Act. (Federal Investigation Agency, 2011). Major changes were introduced in both at the administrative as well as functional aspects including accountability at all the levels. Besides, by the then president in 2004, introduced major changes in Police Order 2002 for legal mechanism while in the year 2009 Police Order 2002 lost the Presidential protection (due to the sixth schedule of the constitution) (ADB, 2011; Abbas, 2009) (Human rights commission of Pakistan, 2010).
However, due to the war on terror and increased militancy in the country, most of the police services have been reserved to protect politicians or other dignitaries (Abbas, 2009). Such involvement of the police force has once again revived the old traditional practice of the colonial regime. The police are providing services to the political masters of the country and there is no such concern about the public services at all. The reasons behind this includes a lack of competency, lack of transparent and honest policing in Pakistan and political interference. Moreover, the influence of corruption thrives in such an environment, in which the police are used as an instrument of suppression rather than a service to the people. Similarly, it is beyond the political will to establish a neutral police force, there is a critical need to review the archaic police structure, which stifles professional advancement
b. Society and police culture
The police system and the law enforcement in Pakistan have been dominantly influenced by the colonial legacy and the rule of law is still under the control of remnants of the British regime. Changes being practically taken place or proposed since independence benefit the larger population minimal but elites the most.
Unfortunately, the prevailing attitude of politicians and policy makers is not encouraging towards bringing a positive change to provide a strong base to police and policing in Pakistan. Similarly, the various changes as proposed for a credible, independent and accountable policing in Police Order 2002 are yet to be implemented and thus the system is still paralyzed to ask guidance from the old Police Act of 1861.
The national level leadership have raised several hurdles in the way of Police Order 2002, which was to a major extent a right step in the right direction. It’s time for the leadership to think about serious and honest reforms and work for the implementation of the Police Order 2002 and other such changes that may evolve and safeguard a neutral and accountable police system in Pakistan.
There were already a lot of challenges for Pakistan to deal with but security problems are being increased because of the absence of good governance. Pakistani police are declining the legal modification of the Police manners. Several incidences occurred in Pakistan where the police department stayed inept to do the needful in managing the tribulations. When the panic incidence of Army Public School (APS) transpired than the army was called to tackle the situation. That incident was more related to the legal duties of the police than the army but due to incompetence, police were not called upon duty. Due to a lack of management skills in the police department, more dire and stern situations were assigned to the army to deal with. Besides, the police are not well trained in controlling the generic issues. The police are not skilled enough to have a sense of the right use of power.
Several incidents could be collected in which police people themselves underline the misuse of power and inflicting torture to people by their colleagues. Some instances to explain the above narrative are as follows:
It was a serious matter that in Faisalabad, Salah Uddin was robbing a cash machine and he just made a simple joke with the police by showing his tongue out at the CCTV camera. Later he was arrested by the police on the same day (30 August 2019). The Public leaked a video on social media in that video Salah Uddin was in the custody of the Punjab Police and he was looking fine. But afterward, he suddenly reported being dead. Punjab Police said that he had been acting like a paranormal man and had committed suicide. According to Punjab police, the address of his home was also tattooed on his hand because he was not in good mental health. Salah Uddin`s father was in deep distress on the incident and filed
a case on the police that in the custody of Punjab police his son was murdered by police officials. While there are a lot of human rights laws in Pakistan but no one asking the police about this torture and the case is unsolved and closed in the file.
There was an encounter in Sahiwal/Lahore this was also an act of grave misconduct, this encounter was described as an encounter with terrorists, even DIG Sharjeel Kharal said that the police team, which killed the innocent man, committed a “Blunder” and said that justice would be provided to the victim`s family.
Women do not feel secure going to police stations in Pakistan. Islam is the religion that secures women. But in Pakistan, which has been made to follow the rules of Islam. Women cannot go to the police station due to the fear of harassment.
In order to increase the efficiency and effectiveness of the police in Pakistan, following measures are hereby recommended;
1) A Change in the mindset of the leadership is needed to consider police as public servant rather than personal ones.
2) The old system of the colonial era needs to be abolished because the system has been strongly influenced by political masters and not oriented towards public services.
3) Political influence must be reduced and merit based appointments to key police positions shall be executed
4) Career opportunities for personal growth of the police force shall be given prime attention.
5) Proper training shall be given to the police force according to the current day needs.
c. Police–public relations
Several reforms have been made by the reformers with the economic and social development in the country. In other countries reformation of the policy provides beneficial results but not in Pakistan.
The Police are supposed to manage the peace in the country hence it should be as good as possible. Human Rights Commission (HRC) has provided an overview for reforming the police with substantive suggestions. One of its observations was that Pakistani police only believe in making fear amongst the people instead of providing security. This opinion can be judged on the roads when the police ask anyone for the license. As per the HRC, the Police of Pakistan are good at spreading fear among people and tormenting them. These kinds of public experiences and police reputation had widened the gap between civil society and law enforcement agencies that needed to be bridged in the earliest. The public has a trust deficit in the police and always reluctant to believe in its side of the story.
The image of the police department is not positive in Pakistan. Most of the time, the public stays away from the police force and restrain themselves from the reporting of any criminal activity and does not approach the police force for any kind of help. The news of corruption and barbaric actions by police has created highly mismanaged and unproductive public image of the police. Also, in such system equity and the justice is not found and the criminal activities are very common and uncontrolled which results in a way that the only one who must suffer is the public and the common man.
However, the significant challenge that emerges in the system is the sound establishment of law and order without jeopardizing the primary human rights (Tankebe & Mesko, 2011). This serves as a challenging situation for the police force for meeting the societal demand for improved efficiency. Therefore, the role of the police in the present democratic society is a conflicting one. Most studies confirm that police often undermine the liberty and security rights of the people while normalizing the rule of law (Tyler, 2011).
Due to these increasing challenges in Pakistan, it is imperative to implement and pay attention to Security Sector Reform (SSR) regime. In Pakistan, the military institutions always take a prominence promise, when it comes to taking the responsibility of security management. It works hard sincerely in terms of taking traditional or non-traditional actions in various situations (Malik, 2018).
However, with changing global dynamics and a wide variety of emerging new threats, police reforms have become indispensable to assure the internal security of the country.
d. Public involvement in prevention and deduction of crimes
e. Police participation in community life
In a modern civilized society it is the prime responsibility of the state to protect the life, liberty and honor of its people and dispense justice in an efficient and impartial manner. The police service occupies a pivotal position among institutions of the state engaged in the discharge of this essential function.
The Police Order 2002 unequivocally (clearly) laid down that it is the duty of a police officer to afford relief to people in situations of distress, particularly in respect of women and children; provide assistance to victims of road accidents; supply accident victims and their heirs or dependents with information and documents that would facilitate their compensation claims; and raise awareness among victims of road accidents of their rights and privileges. One example of the police department’s serviceoriented activities is assistance through rescue centers like Madadgar 15. In areas where these rescue centers are better organized and efficient, police-community relations have improved considerably.
Various factors have contributed towards widening the gap between the police and the community. These include the colonial legacy of the police as a force deployed against the public and not for the public; its oppressive use against the people for political reasons in the garb of maintaining public order; the bureaucratic way of working of police officers at the senior level and unfriendly attitudes prevalent in junior ranks; incompetence and corrupt practices; and slackness in adopting modern practices of community policing.
Community policing is the best way to bridge the gap between the police and the public. This is not just theory, for experiments have been successful in some crimeinfested neighborhoods of Karachi like North Nazimabad, Ferozabad and Bahadurabad.
In these areas, citizens have pooled resources like patrol cars and manpower and have joined hands with the area police in prevention of crime. These neighborhood watch programs have not only significantly reduced crime in the selected areas but a bond of trust has developed between police officers and citizens. The downside of this model is that the police-community partnership is confined to certain affluent blocks of these areas. It has to be extended to less privileged neighborhoods.
The idea of involving citizens` bodies in policing activities in not new. Mohalla committees, peace committees and even an organized body like the CPLC in Karachi have been functioning from time to time though with limited roles. The Police Order 2002 gives a formal role to citizens` bodies in the shape of district public safety commissions, provincial public safety commissions and a National Public Safety Commission. It is a pity that public safety commissions could not play their due role as envisaged in the Police Order due to petty politics.
No police service can succeed in the prevention and detection of crime and maintenance of law and order without substantial support from the community. Investment in human resources and modern policing equipment in complete isolation from the community will be an exercise in futility and a sheer waste of money. A police service accountable to the community and working in tandem with the people to be policed can do wonders even with meagre resources. The people expect the new government and the police leadership to deliver in this vital area.
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