Pakistani policemen stand guard in a troubled neighbourhood in Karachi. PHOTO: AFP/ FILE
The deteriorating law and order situation of this city of 20 million is unlikely to improve even though the interim provincial government recently decided to recruit 8,000 policemen.
This decision of the Sindh cabinet is too big itself considering they have hardly two months. In this short span of time, the caretaker chief minister could have managed with five or six ministers and only two advisers given they are only expected to look after routine matters. Perhaps, political considerations were kept in mind.
If the police are recruited with the same consideration, the result could be more disastrous as the Sindh police are more of a political force than a police force. These 8,000 vacancies would have been filled by now if the Pakistan Peoples Party (PPP) and the Muttahida Qaumi Movement (MQM) had not developed differences over the distribution of ‘quota’ last year. This common practice under successive governments has resulted in political leanings among at least 70 per cent of the police.
If the government recruited 15,000 to 18,000 police constables in the past five years, at least 6,000 were allegedly recruited by former interior minister Zulfiqar Mirza. The past five governments had recruited nearly 50,000 police constables, a majority of whom were hired through political affiliations or under parties’ quota. As a result, the Sindh police became a politicised force but divided among parties - no wonder Karachi’s law and order went from bad to worse.
Earlier in the 90s, nearly 5,000 policemen were sacked as they were recruited on political considerations without any record. “Yes, it is true,” said a senior police officer, on condition of anonymity. “There were reports that these policemen were more loyal to their parties then to the police.”
A few serving and retired senior police officers have also admitted that policemen act as ‘facilitators’ of alleged criminals and terrorists, rather than protect people.
Surprisingly, around 700 ASI posts are lying vacant as the department has not given promotions or hired men at this post in the last five years. The jobs were supposed to come through the Sindh Public Service Commission (SPSC), which has interviewed potential candidates and is likely to make recommendations soon.
Interestingly, after the Sindh Local Government Ordinance was withdrawn, the police tried direct appointments and promotions under Police Act, 1861, and Police Rules, 1931. As they were about to release the list, the election commission imposed a ban. Now, the decision lies with the SPSC.
It may be pertinent to note that the caretaker’s first major decision was on police recruitments. If the interim government follows procedure, it is highly unlikely they will be able to fill all vacancies unless they follow the traditional ‘pick and choose’ without merit.
According to the procedure, the posts need to be advertised in national daily newspapers. The minimum qualification for a constable is Matriculate. This is followed by the verification of their certificates and other relevant records, such as their background, criminal checks, etc. The applicant also has to be at least five feet six inches and clear the physical and medical tests. The shortlisted candidates are then invited for written tests and oral interviews by senior officers of the ranks of DIG and SP. The whole procedure lasts up to six weeks, after which the successful ones are sent on full training for at least three months.
If the interim government succeeds in hiring police constables above political consideration, they won’t be able to work during the elections as training takes time. A workable option is to hire policemen on merit and send them on a six-month training programme. Meanwhile, the government should make do with the Rangers and the army during the elections, along with the 100,000-strong existing police force.
The writer is the director of current affairs at Express News
Published in The Express Tribune, April 5th, 2013.
COMMENTS (2)
Comments are moderated and generally will be posted if they are on-topic and not abusive.
For more information, please see our Comments FAQ
If merit, physical ability, education is the high priority of selection, then something is better than nothing and this is long overdue. It is a good start on a stepping-stone to administer and maintain a long evading law and order crisis when the city is held hostage to political favorites, political biradari, and lucre hounding politicians. There are clean, determined people left in Pakistan, and the political rogues confronted us because we avoided implementing the law. The law exists, only we need to implement and renew it in some places to meet the challenges and changes of time. This is a time for hope and looking forward to meet future challenges and not one of despondency and despair. Salams
Follow what every major/successful metropolitan has done, establish city police forces for Karachi & Lahore. No more Punjab Police and Sindh Police!
NYPD, LAPD, London Met, etc can be used as examples. A simple question, how can a hawaldar from Sheikhupura or Sanghar know what are the ground dynamics of Karachi or Lahore?
Pakistan needs a 21st century grass root democracy with an elected local govt responsible for development projects and policing, not a colonial era system of provincial control.