‘We are helpless in front of seniors, politicians’

Police, people share grievances in discussion on the city’s problems.

KARACHI:

When senior officers want anything to happen, it does, otherwise the issue just becomes a point for endless debate, admitted police officer Zaman Khan on the second day of a focus group discussion between the people and the police organised by NGO Shehri.

Inspector Iqtidar Alam talked about the might of the senior police officers and “political influence”. There is nepotism and we are helpless, he admitted. “[Rehman] Dakait forced the police to recruit 700 men from Lyari, out of whom 170 turned out to be robbers. These people listen to no one. They have destroyed the whole system.”

Even the traffic police jumped in and expressed their grievances. When people in the group complained that the traffic police give licences to smoke-emitting cars, they complained that their hands were tied. “If we refuse to a licence to a car, we receive tons of [angry] phone calls.”

All police officers stressed that political interference was a major reason why they could not completely control law and order and fix the system. “So, if you think that reforming the police will solve all the city’s problems, think again. Because unless and until all the institutions of this country are strong, things will continue to stand as they are,” said ASI Irfan Ahmed.

ASI Ahmed said that in the coming three years, the biggest problem the people of Karachi will face will be finding a parking space. “The solution is simple. Civic education should be added to school syllabuses along with a subject in traffic awareness so that children know about it from the very beginning,” he suggested.

The police listed their grievances with the media. ASI Ahmed said the police version is “usually ignored”. “These days we are fighting with roadside stall owners in Saddar and other congested areas who have encroached on the road. But nobody is willing to listen to us and we are constantly blamed for corruption.” The media should not portray the police as monsters when they are simply trying to do their job, he said. People at the focus group did not rebut.

However, one participant, Syed Mateen, quipped, “Why do the Karachi police not smile?” This lightened the mood and the Karachi police present did smile. Meanwhile, Abbas Badami, a senior member of Citizens-Police Liason Committee, said that the root of all problems was that citizens of Karachi do not want to take ownership of anything. “With ownership comes responsibility and an attitude to solve issues - which we lack.”

Published in The Express Tribune, April 6^th,  2011.