The helplessness of the police

Another day in the suo motu hearing about the Karachi violence, another bit of shocking testimony presented to the Supreme Court bench. Sindh Inspector General Wajid Ali Durrani told the five-member bench that 30 per cent of the police force supports those who perpetrate violence and so refuse to register cases against them. This time, though, the shock is that the number is as low as that. It is no secret that officers in the police force have loyalties to a political party in the city and that it is their refusal to take action that allows them to get away with murder. In fact, it would not come as a surprise at all if the percentage of compromised policemen was much higher. Those who are apolitical also find it difficult to take action simply out of fear. Given this climate, it is no wonder that Karachi has descended into a state of complete lawlessness. The problem with the police starts at the very top. Promotions and transfers are decided not on merit but are entirely due to political connections. The Sindh IG had admitted as much in his earlier testimony before the Supreme Court and had been ordered to ensure that this practice is halted immediately and all those who were negatively affected by political appointments be reinstated. Expecting a system of patronage that has existed for decades to suddenly be changed overnight is a pipe dream. It might happen eventually, but not soon enough to catch those involved in the latest spate of killings in the city.

The only immediate solution lies, not in the courts, but with the three main political parties in Karachi: the MQM, the ANP and the PPP. Most of the killings in Karachi were political and so the solution too must be political. Unfortunately, that too seems improbable. Rather than showing willingness to compromise, leaders from all parties seem intent on staging lengthy emotional press conferences and then duking it out on talk shows. Such actions suggest a clear unwillingness to find solutions and an inclination to partake of the ongoing blame game.

Published in The Express Tribune, September 12^th,  2011.