Why police must be reformed?

In a shocking incident, nineteen employees at a fast-food restaurant in Lahore were detained after refusing to give a group of police officers free burgers. The news was reported by an international news agency – AFP.

Workers at the fast-food chain were rounded up and held for seven hours overnight, leaving behind unattended kitchens and hungry customers. Restaurant staff said that most of those arrested were young people, including many university students.

In January 2021, Usama Satti and Sultan Nazir were shot dead by law-enforcement personnel in Islamabad and Karachi respectively. These are not isolated incidents but reflect the larger and more routine pattern of police brutality and excessive use of force.

Public surveys and reports of government accountability institutions show that the police are one of the most widely feared, complained against, and least trusted government institutions in Pakistan, lacking a clear system of accountability and plagued by corruption at the highest levels.  

According to a survey conducted by Transparency International, around 70 percent of Pakistanis who came into contact with the police or the courts had to pay bribes. This is just standard operating procedure in most police stations, which reflects the problem of inadequate resources being allocated here.

At the time of elections and during their tenure, political parties vehemently profess their commitment to police reform. Due to the continued and wanton use of police by the party in power for political considerations, a people-friendly police force has remained an elusive dream, and ordinary citizens continue to suffer.

Since Police is directly responsible for internal security and plays a key role in maintaining law & order, therefore, reforms in police service are the need of the hour. Police need to be empowered, recruitments need to be made transparent and free of any political interference.

At the same time, their families should be provided social benefits such as health and education. Policemen should be trained in public dealing and soft skills. Their attitude towards the general public should be friendly and facilitative.