Honouring the policemen

Stories of wrongdoings pretty much camouflage the sacrifices they render to maintain law and order.

The chest of a policeman is the first shield to each and every celebrity in the country. When a news story tells you that a certain VIP caught in an ambush was able to ‘luckily escape’, know that police officer was met with the bad luck instead. Often, the entire nation becomes ‘survivor’ when a constable dies. But we don’t feel any empathy. But in this country, the police force remains largely unsung.

Therefore, it was like a bolt from the blue when the speaker at a ceremony announced that any among the police officials should come forward and collect a souvenir for providing security services during the event. As a police constable wearing a dusty uniform appeared, the entire hall echoed with claps and supporting slogans. Khyber-Pakhtunkhwa Minister for Sports, Tourism and Culture Mehmood Khan, flanked by other politicians on the stage, handed over him the honorary souvenir.

This is an incident from the bodybuilding contests held in Peshawar for various titles including ‘Mr Khyber-Pakhtunkhwa’ and ‘Mr Peshawar’. Hordes of policemen were deputed there to guard the event.

Stories of corruption, malpractices and cruelty of police officials pretty much camouflage the sacrifices they render to maintain law and order. It is very often that we hear story of militants attacking police stations or vans, with several policemen on duty killed in the ambush.

Owing to these repeated attacks, police officials were asked to wear bulletproof jackets during their duty hours. This is a precaution that might save them from a bullet, but we must stop and think: how tedious is it to move around in heavy jackets? One may easily claim that many of our policemen today go an extra mile in performing their duties. Often, they do what the army should be doing.

I have no one in police department and not favoring anyone; but this is a reality rolling in our streets, roads, cities and surroundings.

It was therefore a very heartening moment when a politician at a sports function addressed their services. It was a magnificent idea to tell the people how we can appreciate and motivate those who serve us.

Published in The Express Tribune, April 9^th, 2014.