Who will police the police?

Several weeks have passed since the Islamabad district courts was hit by a vicious gun and bomb attack, which left an additional district and sessions judge and 11 others dead. After the incident, a joint investigation team (JIT) of police and an inquiry committee were formed and both of them have already submitted their reports to the interior ministry.

The capital police came under severe criticism for its failure to respond to the attack. Everyone is now desperately waiting for the findings of the commission headed by a sitting judge. The findings will determine whether it was the failure of the police including the Inspector General of Police IGP, SSP (Operations) or chief commissioner Islamabad.

But all eyes are on the judicial committee constituted by Islamabad High Court (IHC) chief justice headed by Judge Shaukat Aziz Siddiqui, who is known for his bold rulings.

Many believe that those responsible for the fiasco would face the music once findings were complete. The commission has been regularly conducting its proceedings and it is expected that it will submit its finding to chief justice next week.

However, irrespective of the findings, few things need mention here. The fundamental question is this: why did the police fail to respond despite the fact that the terrorists resorted to aerial firing continuously for 45 minutes?

It was shocking to know that police officials have to think many a times before they respond to such incidents. Different police officers, whom I spoke to, said that they were not keen to put their lives at risk when they would get nothing in the end. One of the police officers categorically said “Mujey kia zaroorat pari hai ke main goli chalooon aur inquirian bhugtoon” (Why should I open fire? Only to face inquiries later?)

This fear of inquiry is stopping the police officers from carrying out their duty and this state-of-affairs needs immediate attention. We must remove this fear among the low-ranking officers and cops, so that they can combat terrorists, which is their rightful duty. There is dire need to reform the police structure to boost the morale of the police force. Prudent administrative reforms are needed in the police apparatus.

Published in The Express Tribune, March 30^th, 2014.