Police Encounters

Police is the state organ which enforces law and order and is responsible for the safety of public at large. Basically a civilian law enforcement agency, police keeps peace in the settled areas, arrests criminals and prosecutes them through courts, investigates delinquencies and even provides vital support as a community service in emergencies like earthquakes, flood, famines and droughts.

But aforementioned are the stated roles of police and are of least connotations in developing countries. In a society like ours, Police is not public friendly and its daunting reputation frightens only the less privileged souls whose protection is its foremost duty. Honest and God fearing men in uniform do not fare well but those who serve the ruling political personalities/parties excel in their ranks and climb high the ladder of success.

Though there are some exceptions and we have some bright examples too but individual characteristics matter least in terms of collective role of an institution.

Police, in Pakistan, is generally corrupt to the core and dishonest. Poor cannot count on its support, if need be, and are thrown out of police stations for they can’t pay the police enough to buy its services, a privilege reserved only for affluent classes.

But it is not a misdemeanor of police alone as it falls under the purview of civil administration. This incapacitates its ability to act independently, which it should be, and makes it partisan thus squeezing space for neutrality and aligns it more close to the people in power.

There are genuine capacity problems which the police faces. It lacks modern weaponry and requisite training which is essential for any law enforcement agency of the modern times. The war on terror which is in its 17^th year has aggravated this predicament further. Police has suffered great losses at the hands of TTP and other proscribed organizations which are well funded and better trained.

Having failed against terrorists and armed wings of political parties, police has a knack for valor in its dealings with the innocent and wretched public.

It has gradually become a tool for political parties to level score with opponents who are kidnapped from their houses and then murdered in “staged” encounters. Prosecution and investigation is undertaken by the police itself which gives its own men a “clean chit” hence the courts are rendered useless when the police becomes party in killings as it maneuvers litigation and destroys proofs which can possibly entail conviction.

Politicians come and go, what is here to stay is police.

Land grabbing in mega cities is impossible without complicit collaboration of Police dept. which in turn relies on politicians for promotions and support when shadow of accountability looms. The nexus of “despotic politicians & dirty cops” makes life hell for commoners, swinging them like pendulum between influential political bigwigs and their cronies in uniform.

Alliance works both ways equally guarding interests of both parties but politicians come and go, what is here to stay is police which with the passage of time hones its skillset and at times, takes free ride often boomeranging its own patrons and principal backers. Those who kill mostly ordinary citizens and at times political activist of opposite parties in fake police encounters take no time to switch sides when the tide turns.

Hundreds of people have been killed in what is termed as police encounters, in the mega city of Karachi alone. Prizes are announced and promotions promised but what is missing in this context is the right to fair trial where the “proclaimed offenders” are given due time and counsel to prove their innocence. It is akin to universal truth that those who can secure their release after paying a hefty price are let off the hook whereas the unfortunate die in police encounters.