The transfers and postings of police officers made on political grounds have resulted in a rise in crimes
SHIKARPUR: Generally, it is seen in Sindh that honest police officers appointed to the posts of SSP, ASP, DSP and SHO, who play a vital role in improving the law and order situation in their respective areas, performing their bounden duty with full commitment, dedication, zeal and zest, are transferred from the areas they have been posted because they do not work according to the wishes of the local politicians and landlords. In reaction to these transfers, the general public protests and stages rallies but the government still does not cancel the transfer orders.
On the contrary, police officers who listen to and work on directions of ministers, politicians, and waderas, instead of performing their professional duties honestly, are posted in the place of officers of integrity. The transfers and postings of police officers made on political grounds have resulted in a rise in crimes, such as kidnappings, robberies, thefts and motorcycle hijackings in Sindh, especially in the districts of Shikarpur, Jacobabad, Larkana, and Khairpur in the northern part of the province.
The police forces of the US, Canada, Japan, Britain and other European countries are totally independent in conducting their operational matters and investigations without any interference from politicians or bureaucrats. However, the situation is quite different in Pakistan. Our various police forces have been victims of political and bureaucratic interference from ministers, parliamentarians, local politicians and landlords. The result is poor performance of the police in handling the security situation, the state of law and order, in terms of crime prevention and detection, and in the delivery of quality policing services to the people.
The law and order situation is getting more and more aggravated as a result. The police force, being the principal law enforcing agency, has to be de-politicised and strengthened to restore and maintain durable peace in Sindh.
Shaikh Abdul Rasheed
Published in The Express Tribune, February 24th, 2015.
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