Our police culture

As a peace-loving citizen from Punjab, I often find myself facing tricky questions that irritate me. My most recent encounter with such a question: Has the thana culture changed in Punjab? Two recent incidents compelled me to think that either the police have become a panacea or the officials have gone back to their old traditional habits.

Combating crimes, protesting lives, properties, maintaining law and order and ensuring enforcement of state laws or rules are amongst the prime duties of the police force everywhere. But I feel sorry to say that the police force is considered to be a sign of terror in Pakistan, like other developing countries. It is due to this reason that since 2008, the Punjab rulers, even after tireless efforts and investment of billions, have not been able to change the police official’s mindset and style of dealing with the public.

Two, recent, politically motivated incidents strengthened my apprehension that the thana culture may never change. The first incident was the PTI leaders’ arrests, indiscriminate batons charge and dragging of female lawmakers on the road by the police and the second incident involved policemen trespassing the house of a PPP leader without respecting property ownership rights and ignoring all respect for the chaddar.

I, being a journalist, have received hundreds of handouts and statements sent out by the chief minister of Punjab, since 2008; all saying that the shabby thana culture would not be tolerated. He says that he would change it at any cost and the police would become a modest and subservient force. I, being a common citizen, read countless news stories on national media all stating that no laxity or brutality by the police will be tolerated by the authorities.

I know two inspector generals who served this noble cause; one in-service, heading the police force while the other retired but still thinking of how to change this cruel force into a friendly one.  Heavy investment and series of meetings cannot change this force. Change of mindset may, however, reform culture. This is possible with modern trainings, capacity building, provision of civic facilities, the end of political interference and a social audit of force.

Honestly speaking, the investigation of an accused person equals the treatment of the ones complaining — both involving humiliation and the third degree method. Only corruption rates and highhandedness have increased as police yet working as unbridle horse.

Published in The Express Tribune, September 24^th, 2013.