The only possible way to curb malpractices in the law and order department is to instill a feeling of responsibility
LAHORE: While the Punjab government is pushing forward its plan to introduce new uniform for its police wing, we must point out that merely changing the colour of the uniform is not enough to discourage ill governance which has rampantly taken over our institutions and the Punjab police is no exception.
The fresh initiatives are certainly welcome to a degree where office staff and field staff are differentiated to facilitate the public in identifying as to who is authorised to take policing actions in the field, in the light of incidents involving abuse of power by uniformed police department officials.
Apart from that, the government has also introduced Punjab Police Integrated Command Control and Communication (IPPC3). It is intended to stymie criminal activities across cities but yet as we all know policing activities are often centered around the police official.
Many people will agree that several illegal practices are carried out under the patronage of some police officials.
The core problem identified by the experts is lack of capacity-building measures.
The only possible way to curb malpractices in the law and order department is to instill a feeling of responsibility and accountability towards the general public. The mindsets must be designed to reject the culture of ‘maal paani’ (bribe) and create a public-friendly atmosphere where no common man is scared to enter a station house officer’s room and come out with his dignity and trust in the system intact.
Muhammad Ali Chaudhry
Published in The Express Tribune, March 26th, 2017.
Like Opinion & Editorial on Facebook, follow @ETOpEd on Twitter to receive all updates on all our daily pieces.
