Mubarak Baloch
Police in Pakistan is generally perceived to be politicized, lethargic, and lacking professionalism. This perception could however be more or less true for majority of police personnel but there are others who still hold the uprightness and honesty steadfastly in their professional life. Unfortunately, such personnel go unmentioned and unsung in our social milieu. Though subsequently they stand unbeatable and win genuine public accolades. Recently, SSP Shariq Kamal Siddique DPO Bahawalnagar has been removed and surrendered to Establishment Division where he has been made as OSD (Officer on Special Duty – a punitive appointment for government officials).
Reports are that on his orders police raided outhouse of MNA Mr. Alam Dad Laleka, PML-N to arrest Imran Sindhu, an aide of lawmaker who was involved in manhandling police personnel when he was carrying some contraband and refused to be checked. As culture in vogue, lawmaker made abortive attempt by approaching chief executive of Punjab province for removal of the officer. Subsequently, his politically tinged entreaties to our embattled Prime Minister worked to his unscrupulous desire and the police officer reported to Establishment Division. To settle the matter amicably the officer was given option to apologize to lawmaker but he out-rightly refused. His defiant stand against disorderly behavior is in fact the laudable attempt to uphold the law and maintain the dignity of police as an institution. Common man, members of civil society including traders spoke well of the officer’s performance in district and gave him a decent send-off. They lambasted the government’s decision of removing the officer.
Similarly, in 2014 Mr. Mohammad Ali Nekokara, SSP Islamabad had to be dismissed from service after he declined to use force against the public march towards parliament under the leadership of Dr. Tahirul Qadri and Imran Khan. Officer gave a well reasoned argument that police must not replicate the incident of Model Town. The hapless police official is presently fighting a legal battle against his dismissal order. Soon after Mr. Nekokara’s dismissal Asmatullah Junejo was appointed as SSP Islamabad who challenged the public procession and was manhandled and bruised by some unruly marchers. After the sit-in ended he was also suspended apparently under the pretext of registration of improper FIR against the member of a defunct outfit. He was seen visiting quarters concerned while pleading his innocence. Being known for his uprightness and honesty people decried government’s unpopular decision.
Institutions never bloom when these are sabotaged by making them subservient to the unjustified and unpopular will of the government of the time to serve the narrow ends. Mr Mushtaque Sukhera, Inspector General Police Punjab did not come to rescue his sub-ordinate officer who exhibited his spine by saying a big ‘No’ to the option suggesting to stand apologetically before an erratic lawmaker. Officer preferred professional honesty with dignity and held his steadfastness high. His removal demoralized the police personnel but his sense of professional purpose taught a healthy lesson to his subordinates.
If the police as an institution is treated in such a shabby manner then the insignificant Chotoos grow bigger and subsequently batter and beat this local force black and blue. Earlier, IG Punjab’s frustration with failure of police force in overpowering a gang of bandits was unjustified as the force under his command was demoralized in a way, as had happened with SSP Shariq. Rather provincial police chief should have shown his spine by arguing against his officer’s unceremonious removal. Institutions are never framed over night nor grow so fast. It is all a gradual process. In these are found the guiding principles to run the affairs of respective departments to the benefit of people at large while upholding the law of land. Institutional strength is the need of the hour in our country. Individuals must not be allowed to look bigger than the institutions. Their whims and caprices in contravention of law of land should not be given any weight. Unfortunately, we’ve a different culture here. Institutions are gagged and those supposed to speak against it unluckily show connivance to this vandalism.
We’ve a fast growing population and with it the proliferating criminal culture. To meet this challenge a well disciplined and organized local police is the need of the hour. Patronage of the senior commanders of force plays a crucial role in boosting professional morale and sincerity with purpose. To make this happen it is essential that policemen exhibiting honest fabric may be respected and valued.
Their professional mannerism will be taken as a lesson by the junior ranks to emulate. In well-developed democratic culture if any individual feels to have been treated unfairly in one institutional forum then he seeks redress from the next institution and justice finally prevails. If the aide of lawmaker, for argument’s sake, was wronged he should have taken to legal recourse and should have sought judicial redress. Removal of an upright officer reflects morally revulsive act of government and it shows that the institution has gone dwarf and the individual stood taller. Weak, vandalized and subdued institutions never gather strength to assert against debauched surroundings to bring succour to people.
