Reforms agenda: Seminar participants say uniformity in police laws can help improve performance
‘System of accountability needed to make reforms effective’
‘System of accountability needed to make reforms effective’. PHOTO: REUTERS
LAHORE:
Participants of a seminar on Saturday called for uniformity in police laws, police organisation, women policing, accountability in the department, police’s role against terrorism and community policing.
The Human Rights Commission of Pakistan (HRCP) had organised the seminar, The Deferred Agenda of Police Reform, at its headquarters.
In his introductory note, HRCP secretary general IA Rehman said a reform agenda introduced in the Police Department in 2000 had been deferred. He said there were no uniform laws to run the department.
“Reforms have been introduced selectively in some areas. Political influence is still rampant in the department,” Rehman said. He stressed the need for highlighting the issue.
Lawyer Asad Jamal said police in Pakistan were operating under three different laws; the Punjab Police were operating under the Police Order 2002, the Khyber Pakhtunkhwa Police under the same law with some amendments, and police in Sindh and Balochistan were operating under an 1861 Act.
He, too, said there was no uniformity in police organisation. Police officials are recruited at two levels – federal and provincial. He said most of the officers from the rank of ASP to onward were derived from the federal cadre and others from the provincial cadre.
Training Additional IG Usman Khattak said reforms had been introduced at the federal level only due to pressure of some international organisations. He said that under the Police Order 2002, policemen should be recruited at the constable and ASI levels. But sub-inspectors, inspectors and corporals, too, were being recruited directly, he said.
Khattak said a thorough system of accountability was needed to bring about effective reforms in police.
Zafar Ali Khan, an SP from Khyber Pakhtunkhwa, said there were two types of laws the police dealt with; one dealing with crime and the other with police organisation. He said the Code of Criminal Procedure, the Pakistan Penal Code and the Law of Evidence had been legislated in accordance with the 1861 Act. “The Act has been amended but criminal laws remain the same,” he said.
He said it was ironic that laws formulated by provinces were executed by the federal cadre (the Police Service of Pakistan).
Former Federal Investigation Agency Director General Tahsin Ali said the issues regarding reforms were huge. “We cannot see them through the prism of a police officer, a lawyer or a judge.” He said many factors affected the performance of the Police Department.
Information Commission Member Mukhtar Ahmad Ali said lack of motivation and incentives for police officials affected their performance. He said there was a huge difference between the perks available to PSP officers and low-ranked police officials.
Individualland Research Associate Syeda Sundus said policewomen faced problems such of harassment, lesser authority and low strength.
Lawyer Ahmer Bilal Soofi said police’s role had changed in the campaign against terrorism. “The force was meant to deal with domestic issues and crimes. The modus operandi of terrorists is different. In many cases, they are trans-national criminals. There is need to introduce reforms in training, legislation, investigation and operation of police,” Soofi said.
Published in The Express Tribune, August 23rd, 2015.
Participants of a seminar on Saturday called for uniformity in police laws, police organisation, women policing, accountability in the department, police’s role against terrorism and community policing.
The Human Rights Commission of Pakistan (HRCP) had organised the seminar, The Deferred Agenda of Police Reform, at its headquarters.
In his introductory note, HRCP secretary general IA Rehman said a reform agenda introduced in the Police Department in 2000 had been deferred. He said there were no uniform laws to run the department.
“Reforms have been introduced selectively in some areas. Political influence is still rampant in the department,” Rehman said. He stressed the need for highlighting the issue.
Lawyer Asad Jamal said police in Pakistan were operating under three different laws; the Punjab Police were operating under the Police Order 2002, the Khyber Pakhtunkhwa Police under the same law with some amendments, and police in Sindh and Balochistan were operating under an 1861 Act.
He, too, said there was no uniformity in police organisation. Police officials are recruited at two levels – federal and provincial. He said most of the officers from the rank of ASP to onward were derived from the federal cadre and others from the provincial cadre.
Training Additional IG Usman Khattak said reforms had been introduced at the federal level only due to pressure of some international organisations. He said that under the Police Order 2002, policemen should be recruited at the constable and ASI levels. But sub-inspectors, inspectors and corporals, too, were being recruited directly, he said.
Khattak said a thorough system of accountability was needed to bring about effective reforms in police.
Zafar Ali Khan, an SP from Khyber Pakhtunkhwa, said there were two types of laws the police dealt with; one dealing with crime and the other with police organisation. He said the Code of Criminal Procedure, the Pakistan Penal Code and the Law of Evidence had been legislated in accordance with the 1861 Act. “The Act has been amended but criminal laws remain the same,” he said.
He said it was ironic that laws formulated by provinces were executed by the federal cadre (the Police Service of Pakistan).
Former Federal Investigation Agency Director General Tahsin Ali said the issues regarding reforms were huge. “We cannot see them through the prism of a police officer, a lawyer or a judge.” He said many factors affected the performance of the Police Department.
Information Commission Member Mukhtar Ahmad Ali said lack of motivation and incentives for police officials affected their performance. He said there was a huge difference between the perks available to PSP officers and low-ranked police officials.
Individualland Research Associate Syeda Sundus said policewomen faced problems such of harassment, lesser authority and low strength.
Lawyer Ahmer Bilal Soofi said police’s role had changed in the campaign against terrorism. “The force was meant to deal with domestic issues and crimes. The modus operandi of terrorists is different. In many cases, they are trans-national criminals. There is need to introduce reforms in training, legislation, investigation and operation of police,” Soofi said.
Published in The Express Tribune, August 23rd, 2015.