K-P CM, IGP struggle for control over police

Differences between police, govt officials hurdle in depoliticising force

PESHAWAR: The proposed police reforms aimed at external accountability of the department have turned into a power struggle between the chief minister and IGP, confusing legislators and officials. Several sessions were held to reach a middle ground, but without meaningful results.

Sources privy to the matter told The Express Tribune IGP Nasir Khan Durrani is of the view that it was important to maintain functional autonomy of the police. Durrani believes all appointments—right from an additional inspector general to the lower cadres—should be the prerogative of the IGP.



However, there are several reservations from the bureaucracy and lawmakers representing the government.

A government functionary explains his side’s stance and says the IGP’s demand will only be acceptable if it was guaranteed the chief minister appoints the provincial head of police. He adds even this was not possible as while the provincial government has the right to choose the IGP, the final appointment still requires the federal government’s nod.

The entire debate has ended up in a tautology of sorts with no final outcome as yet; the police and government officially deny any such differences. Chief Minister Pervez Khattak’s office, when contacted, says a draft of the reforms and suggestions has been completed; the IGP’s office does not respond to phone calls.

However, the matter is now an open secret. To resolve differences, Khattak formed a committee to examine the legal implications of the amendments suggested by the cabinet subcommittee and the police department to the police act three months ago. The committee is headed by Minister for Local Government Inyatullah Khan and includes provincial ministers Shahram Khan Tarakai, Muhammad Atif Khan, Shah Farman and Qaumi Watan Party MPA Anisa Zeb Tahirkheli.

Sources working in close coordination with the committee say although the body has resolved most the problems, the issues of promotions and appointments remain contentious topics. “Both the IGP and the CM will have to sit down and resolve the issue,” one of them stated.

However, the police’s autonomy carries an additional adjunct of releasing it from the bureaucracy’s intervention, in other words the home department’s interference.



If officials privy to the developments are to be believed, the recent spat and exchange of words suggest the issues run deeper than just autonomy. The bureaucracy simply does not want to let go.

A senior police officer told The Express Tribune from the force’s perspective, the accountability of the police was not the only issue. In the years following 9/11, the police became a unit which needed to make quick choices on ground and the situation demanded independent decision-making. Citing the committee constituted, he claimed there were two members in it who were involved in politically manoeuvring themselves.

Depoliticising the police has been something the PTI-led K-P government has long advocated. Independent observers tell a different story. For the moment, it seems depoliticising the force is an uphill task.

The police reforms bill now has many versions. Internal and external accountability of the department are issues that have had little criticism from any side. The bones of contention are the modus operandi and who gets the lion’s share of powers.

The department itself has been divided when it comes to promotions. The Police Service of Pakistan says it has been completely sidelined. “Everyone will have to sit at the negotiating table as there will be no final draft unless all agree. For now, there is little consensus and a lot of politics,” says one source when talking about the entire process up till now.

Published in The Express Tribune, January 13^th, 2016.