Law enforcers say frequent transfers reduce their capacity to deal with crises
They say that day-to-day routines and job stress can make policemen apathetic.
File photo of Karachi Police conducting an operation in Shanti Nagar area. PHOTO: EXPRESS/ FILE
KARACHI:
The Abbas Town blast and the short rule of ‘namaloom afraad’ in Karachi a couple of days after the incident made many question the capacity of law enforcers to promptly respond to and effectively deal with crises.
But speakers at a seminar organised on Monday by Karachi University’s (KU) psychology department said that these two incidents are not exceptions: public complaints about the apathy of the law enforcers and the government emerge every time there is a crisis. ASP Ibadat Nisar, one of the panellists, admitted the shortcomings of the police. “It’s true that we don’t respond to crises as we should. But the police force is marred by a lack of administration, facilities and infrastructure.”
ASP Nisar also pointed out the sudden changes in the police set-up - such as the unexpected revival of the old “commissionery” system back in July 2011 - as well as quick transfers of officers within the department, as parts of the problem. Once devised, systems are supposed to evolve and then subsequently strengthen over centuries. But in Pakistan, we keep on dabbing in experiments, refusing to move forward, he said.
“Marred by uncertainty, the police department runs under circumstances which do not resemble what other law enforcement agencies in any other country of the world have to deal with,” said ASP Nisar. “In the absence of command, the personnel do not know how they should react.” He added that more seminars and workshops are needed to sensitise the police force to other people’s suffering as law enforcers cope with a great deal of stress in performing their day-to-day duties. “When law enforcers get adapted to this emotional imbalance, they become kind of insensitive to peoples’ suffering, complaints and other issues. They fail to respond with the required level of empathy.”
Karachi University’s vice chancellor, Prof. Muhamamd Qaiser, said that because of the weaknesses in the criminal justice system, every group within the city is bent on proving its power through violence. “In these circumstances, even the media has played a negative role by spreading fear and uncertainty. The criminals are always labelled as ‘namaloom afraad’ even when their identities are known,” he said.
Consultant clinical psychologist, Haider Rizvi, who was among the panellists said, “What depicts the quantum of fear associated with ‘namaloom afraad’ is that their identity is known to you and to me but nobody in this auditorium is ready to name them.” On coping with physical traumas during times of crisis, Dr Basit Ansari, an assistant professor at the university’s physical health and education department, said people present near the site of the incident should keep calm and try to help out those hurt or affected until ambulances or the fire brigade arrives at the scene. “Citizens need to be trained to deal with such situations, with an emphasis on the four Bs - breathing, bleeding, burns and bones. They should be taught to do this without ruining potential evidence at the crime scene.”
He added that availability of ambulances in crises is no longer an issue as a number of organisations were doing a great service. “Competing with each other, at least half a dozen ambulances arrive in the area even on reports of bomb threats which turn out to be hoaxes,” he said. Clinical psychologist Rubina Feroz, geneticist Dr Maqsood Ali Ansari and Citizens-Police Liaison Committee’s founder chief Haji Nazim also spoke at the event.
Acting it out: A story about red tape and apathy
Before the panel discussion a group called Whistle Blowers performed a play which highlighted the theme of apathy. The play revolves around a man called Baibas, a poet by profession, who gets trapped under a plum tree located close to the Chief Minister House.
He calls out for help and a young man tries to help him but cannot pick up the tree by himself. He asks a clerk to help him but is only successful in convincing him by showing him a Rs100 note. The matter is taken to the head clerk who says that a mound of paperwork will have to be completed.
Then case moves around department until a political activist says the man trapped under the tree belongs to his party. When the removal of the tree is finally approved, it turns out that Baibas is already dead.
Published in The Express Tribune, March 26th, 2013.
The Abbas Town blast and the short rule of ‘namaloom afraad’ in Karachi a couple of days after the incident made many question the capacity of law enforcers to promptly respond to and effectively deal with crises.
But speakers at a seminar organised on Monday by Karachi University’s (KU) psychology department said that these two incidents are not exceptions: public complaints about the apathy of the law enforcers and the government emerge every time there is a crisis. ASP Ibadat Nisar, one of the panellists, admitted the shortcomings of the police. “It’s true that we don’t respond to crises as we should. But the police force is marred by a lack of administration, facilities and infrastructure.”
ASP Nisar also pointed out the sudden changes in the police set-up - such as the unexpected revival of the old “commissionery” system back in July 2011 - as well as quick transfers of officers within the department, as parts of the problem. Once devised, systems are supposed to evolve and then subsequently strengthen over centuries. But in Pakistan, we keep on dabbing in experiments, refusing to move forward, he said.
“Marred by uncertainty, the police department runs under circumstances which do not resemble what other law enforcement agencies in any other country of the world have to deal with,” said ASP Nisar. “In the absence of command, the personnel do not know how they should react.” He added that more seminars and workshops are needed to sensitise the police force to other people’s suffering as law enforcers cope with a great deal of stress in performing their day-to-day duties. “When law enforcers get adapted to this emotional imbalance, they become kind of insensitive to peoples’ suffering, complaints and other issues. They fail to respond with the required level of empathy.”
Karachi University’s vice chancellor, Prof. Muhamamd Qaiser, said that because of the weaknesses in the criminal justice system, every group within the city is bent on proving its power through violence. “In these circumstances, even the media has played a negative role by spreading fear and uncertainty. The criminals are always labelled as ‘namaloom afraad’ even when their identities are known,” he said.
Consultant clinical psychologist, Haider Rizvi, who was among the panellists said, “What depicts the quantum of fear associated with ‘namaloom afraad’ is that their identity is known to you and to me but nobody in this auditorium is ready to name them.” On coping with physical traumas during times of crisis, Dr Basit Ansari, an assistant professor at the university’s physical health and education department, said people present near the site of the incident should keep calm and try to help out those hurt or affected until ambulances or the fire brigade arrives at the scene. “Citizens need to be trained to deal with such situations, with an emphasis on the four Bs - breathing, bleeding, burns and bones. They should be taught to do this without ruining potential evidence at the crime scene.”
He added that availability of ambulances in crises is no longer an issue as a number of organisations were doing a great service. “Competing with each other, at least half a dozen ambulances arrive in the area even on reports of bomb threats which turn out to be hoaxes,” he said. Clinical psychologist Rubina Feroz, geneticist Dr Maqsood Ali Ansari and Citizens-Police Liaison Committee’s founder chief Haji Nazim also spoke at the event.
Acting it out: A story about red tape and apathy
Before the panel discussion a group called Whistle Blowers performed a play which highlighted the theme of apathy. The play revolves around a man called Baibas, a poet by profession, who gets trapped under a plum tree located close to the Chief Minister House.
He calls out for help and a young man tries to help him but cannot pick up the tree by himself. He asks a clerk to help him but is only successful in convincing him by showing him a Rs100 note. The matter is taken to the head clerk who says that a mound of paperwork will have to be completed.
Then case moves around department until a political activist says the man trapped under the tree belongs to his party. When the removal of the tree is finally approved, it turns out that Baibas is already dead.
Published in The Express Tribune, March 26th, 2013.