Radicalised cops and war on terror

District police officer of DI Khan made the SC privy to the fact that 60% of his police force had militant mindsets

It was a hapless situation when residents of Dera Ismail (DI) Khan discovered that their local police force is responsible for promulgating sectarian divides in a province that has experienced utmost fragility when it comes to peace. On July 13^th, the district police officer of DI Khan made the Supreme Court privy to the statistics that 60 per cent of his police force had a proclivity towards sectarian divides and militant mindsets. Although the police are frequently a target themselves, the figure leaves one shell-shocked. To illustrate the precarious circumstances in the district, at least 30 terrorism incidents occurred in the first half of this year. The grim picture begs for a correction in the system whereby sectarian and militant elements are eradicated entirely from the body whose sanctity depends on the protection of people, which is an impossible feat if there are corrupt factors existing within.

For the Counter Terrorism Department to have to become involved to first reform within, for better police defence against extremist elements, is harrowing. However, acknowledgement of the problem is far better than the denials that have preceded this confession. As evidenced by the statistics, the district’s police force is mostly rendered ineffective when a high portion of the problem is generated by itself. Surely officers experience angst about being targets of extremism themselves but this in no way grants any excuse for their biases. Most significantly, police training needs to impart better understanding on the menace of sectarianism and militancy that the entire region is combating, with clearly outlined disciplinary procedures against officers inclined towards perpetuating the problems further.

To come this far in the war against extremist elements only to now discover that more than half of the officers in this district are responsible for promoting the very menace security forces have been trying to fight all along is embarrassing, yet debilitating. The situation may be similar in other districts and thus, a critical reflection will need to be made amid talks of involving paramilitary forces in the district.

Published in The Express Tribune, July 15^th, 2018.

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