Poor policing: Lack of performance rewards blamed

Police’s dismal performance can be improved with simple steps,

GILGIT: The absence of a reward or punishment system in the police department of Gilgit-Baltistan (G-B) coupled with sectarian and political inclinations contribute to the department’s inefficiency and poor performance.

G-B Law Minister Advocate Wazir Shakil said on Sunday that the department would not be effective in curtailing target killings in Gilgit until their staff was motivated, either by rewards for good performance or penalties for lapses, or both.

“If the police officers doing well were rewarded and those slacking were punished, the situation would be much better,” said the minister. He said that promotions should be based solely on officials’ performance.

Recently, G-B Chief Minister Mehdi Shah criticised the police for “taking sides” in disputes, implying that crime in the region had increased as a direct result of this.

The law minister said that most of G-B’s people are peace-loving and that only a “handful of troublemakers repeatedly disrupt law and order.”

He said the lack of employment opportunities was another major factor contributing to the youth’s increasing “unrest.”

“After graduating, the youth are unable to find jobs, due to which they trail off in the wrong direction,” he said, adding that the All-Parties Conference held in Gilgit this week was a step in the right direction as it provided an opportunity for leaders to sit together and discuss a
possible solution.

Published in The Express Tribune, January 26^th,  2011.