The need for the revival of the institution of district magistrate with all the judicial powers that the DM exercised before 2002 is being felt strongly with the passing of every day. General Naqwi chairman of the NRB did a great disservice to the common when he destroyed district magistracy which was backbone of the administration in particular and of the line departments in general for many decades. The DM was a cushion, a sort of shock absorber between the people and the government. He kept a vigilant eye on the police also. On the revenue side he was district collector too.
It was he who had to decide in which manner a mob is to be disbursed. Where and when to hold negotiations with it?Was there a need to lathi charge, teargass or open aerial fire on it in case it became violent?The policemen had nothing to do with such like issues. They had to follow his orders simply. After 2002 things changed drastically when the NRB put an entirely different administrative system in place of district magistracy. The new system made the police more powerful which became free in its actions to a great extent. The presence of DM which was like the sword of Damocles over the corrupt and overzealous police officers now got a licence to act according to their whims and caprices. Small wonder many cases of police excesses were witnessed after 2002. The recent incident in Karachi when the policemen beat the hell out of those citizens who were protesting over the patronage of criminals by the police is a case in point.
- Latest
- Trending
