Police and public have had issues in past but there’s been an increase in the last decade.

Police, known as public’s saviors, have continuously been crossing their limits just to protect
interests of powerful individuals or their own. I’ve only mentioned one case from Karachi but
there are dozens more similar to this one. Some reported and some buried deep down where
no one was able to find them. Model Town Case 2014, Shahzaib Murder Case 2012 and
Benazir Bhutto’s murder are some examples of how police chose to be on the side of culprits
rather than victims. In some cases, victims are the culprits but either way police have to and
should perform their duty unbiased with honesty and dignity.

Public surveys and reports show that police are among the foremost wide feared, complained
against, and the least trustworthy government institution in Pakistan. It Lacks a transparent
system of accountability and is full of corruption at the very best levels. Survey shows that
87% people of Pakistan have never visited their local police station, 59% have never filed a
report, 76% have no faith in their saviors and 83% are dissatisfied with the overall efficiency
of police. This survey was done at a smaller scale but shows what a bigger picture would look
like. In our research on why public distrusts police, we’ve found the following reasons:

There are a number of reasons but the most prominent one in my opinion is Pakistan’s culture
of impunity. Several law enforcement officials who spoke to us admitted to the practices such
as registering false cases and torture in custody they carried out because of pressure from
powerful individuals from their local community or the one’s ruling the country. Policemen,
willingly or unwillingly, have to follow these orders from higher command just to earn a
living. And I don’t blame them for that. They are only trying to feed and protect themselves
and their families from this evil mindset. We have the example of Customs Inspector
Chaudhry Ejaz Mahmood who took a stand and arrested model Ayyan Ali redhandedly for
laundering $500,000. He was later shot dead by unknown assailants. The problem lies in the
corrupt, self-centered people who are trying to preserve their interests over others. Murder of
Shahzeb Khan is also an example of how culprits won and allegedly made victims surrender.
Shahzeb Khan was slaughtered on 25 December 2012 in Karachi, which started nationwide
shock against the manhandle of influence by the affluent in Pakistan. Shahrukh Jatoi, son of
feudal lord Sikandar Jatoi, along with his accomplices, Sajjad Talpur and Ghulam Murtaza,
was accused for killing Shahzeb on 7th June 2013. Shahrukh was awarded death penalty while
his accomplices were imprisoned for life. The case took turn when Shahzeb’s parents chose
to pardon all four accused of killing their son and requested for their discharge. The murders
roam freely now because of the law that allows victims to pardon the killer. Anyone would
forgive if that’s what it takes to keep rest of their family safe. Even if that doesn’t do justice
to the deceased.

The police act of Pakistan dates back to the colonial British rule. Decades have passed by but
we’re still following the same rules and laws made years ago. There are also some specific
provisions of law that protect police from accountability. That includes Criminal Procedure
Code (1898), the Maintenance of Public Order Ordinance (1960), and the recently enacted
Protection of Pakistan Act (2014). A reform is needed in Pakistan Police Act to gain the trust
of public and to hold the culprits accountable.