April 20, 2014
Respected Minister Sb. –
In 2013, when your pensive charisma, purposeful voice and determined stare replaced Rehman Malik behind the seal of the Ministry of Interior, the entire nation breathed a sigh of relief. Finally, we all believed, some measure of sanity would be infused into our internal security policy, and in the manner that our law enforcement agencies are governed. The Police, as an institution, would be made independent and effective. Its capacity to counter terrorism, as well as to maintain law and order, shall be strengthened. Its officers shall be given security of tenure – free from all outside influences – in order to discharge their duties professionally, under the law.
Sadly, almost a year after your taking charge of this all-important Ministry, the law enforcement agencies, and their functioning, remain in tatters. And you, Sir, have only added to this quagmire!
The events concerning the Islamabad Police, over the past few weeks, serve as a stark reminder of how the Ministry of Interior, under your command, is corroding the fabric of our law enforcement agencies.
There can be no denying the fact that the terrorist attack on the District Courts of Islamabad, last month, exposed gaping holes in the construct and functioning of our law enforcement apparatus. The frailty of public security, the laxity of police response, and the deficiencies of the ongoing investigation into the matter, are only a few of the many aspects that demand both censure, and a deliberate focus, from those in charge of law enforcement agencies as well as the government. In the aftermath, under the auspices of your ministry, numerous agencies have been collaborating to identify the causes and culprits of this heinous crime. Even the honorable Supreme Court has taken notice of the issue, and ordered that an inquiry be launched as to the reasons for the security lapse that resulted in the death of several lawyers (and an Additional Sessions Judge). The inquiry report has not yet been made public, and in the interregnum, neither your Ministry, nor any other governmental or media outlet, has brought forth material that implicates specific police officers for lapses in the discharge of their duties.
Still, however, yielding to the pressure tactics of a small group of hooligan black-coats, who had parked themselves in front of the Parliament building (with numerous untenable demands, including shifting the District Courts of Islamabad into the IHC building), you ordered the transfer of the Inspector General of Police (Sikandar Hayat), as well as the SSP Operations (Dr. Rizwan). This, ostensibly, was done for no other reason than to simply feed the beast. With political pressure mounting, and no convenient scapegoat available – without any specific cause or justification, or even waiting for the inquiry report to be made public – you decided to continue the past practice of appeasing the public, by undermining the confidence of the security forces.
A few days later, during the proceedings of the ongoing Musharraf treason case, a small understanding took place between DIG of the Islamabad Police (Jan Muhammad), and a local reporter, covering the court proceedings. As it turns out, the DIG (with bona fide intentions) found the reporter to be “suspicious”, and ordered that he be searched, and that his journalistic credentials be checked. This was specifically important, in light of the terrorist attack that had taken place in the District Courts, just a few days before. This journalist resisted the police search and inquiry, creating an unnecessary scene that allowed other media personnel to gather around him, and shout slogans against the police officials. In response to this event, instead of defending the police officers who were performing their lawful duty of protecting the public (and the honorable Judges in the courtroom), you specifically ordered that an “Explanation” (under Police Order and Rules) be called from the DIG. Thereafter, once again ignominiously surrendering to the pressure tactics of media personnel, you took personal interest in ensuring that DIG Jan Muhammad was transferred from his post, without there being any proof or indication of him violating his responsibilities as a police officer.
Sir, at numerous occasions in the past, in several talk shows and press conferences (which is where most of the politicking gets done these days), you have vociferously argued in favor of strengthening the police cadre, and extending operational independence to police officers, without any interference from the political branch of the State. Disappointingly, your actions have not lived up to your rhetoric.
The truth is that the police force in Pakistan, like in all other countries across the world, is the first line of defence against terrorism. Police officials stand at barricades, check-posts, and surround all high profile terrorist targets, with the responsibility to apprehend any and all suspicious activity, in order to save the lives of others. In this regard, at countless instances in the past, numerous police officials – the frontline against terrorism – have had to pay with their own lives. There is no motivation (certainly not in terms of a paltry salary), that would compel police officials to sacrifice their own lives for the cause of a government and a State that neither respects their autonomy nor protects their independence. With the example that you have set, the next DIG, who replaces Jan Muhammad, would never risk ordering the search of a suspicious individual, in the knowledge that the State of Pakistan would not come to his defence. The next IG would never dare to carry out any law enforcement measure that annoys individual members of the bar. And in the shadow of these examples, no police constable would ever dare to stop and check a vehicle that advertises the sticker of a media outlet or a bar council, making it that much easier for the terrorist to succeed in their plans.
A local police official, stationed at the thaana near the District Courts of Islamabad, was recently asked why he did not fire upon the terrorist, on that fateful Tuesday morning. His response, Sir, indicates an ideology of decay that you have further entrenched through your actions. He reportedly said that the last time he fired at a terrorist suspect, and someone died, he was suspended from duty, and had to go through a seven year murder trial that personally cost him 14 lac rupees in legal fees. The State of Pakistan, instead of defending his bona fide actions, prosecuted him for performing his duty. There was no way that he would go through the same again.
Sir, the battle against terrorism will not be won through shady deals with the murderers, or murky negotiations with the Americans. It will not be won through false rhetoric and feigned bravado. It is not being fought on the ground by your colleagues, who live and breathe in the shade of ostentatious protocol. This battle, and the larger war to restore law and order in our country, is being waged by our men and women in uniform, of which police is the very tip of the sword. Your actions have undermined both the confidence and the morale of the police force. And by extension, they have undermined the entire enterprise of law and order in our country.
If there is any chance that the voice of a common citizen can pierce the mighty veil that surrounds your Ministry of Interior, Sir, I hope that you will have the humility to pay heed to it, and the vision to set sails for a brighter and stronger Pakistan.
The writer is a lawyer based in Lahore. He has a Masters in Constitutional Law from Harvard Law School.
In 2013, when your pensive charisma, purposeful voice and determined stare replaced Rehman Malik behind the seal of the Ministry of Interior, the entire nation breathed a sigh of relief. Finally, we all believed, some measure of sanity would be infused into our internal security policy, and in the manner that our law enforcement agencies are governed. The Police, as an institution, would be made independent and effective. Its capacity to counter terrorism, as well as to maintain law and order, shall be strengthened. Its officers shall be given security of tenure – free from all outside influences – in order to discharge their duties professionally, under the law.
Sadly, almost a year after your taking charge of this all-important Ministry, the law enforcement agencies, and their functioning, remain in tatters. And you, Sir, have only added to this quagmire!
The events concerning the Islamabad Police, over the past few weeks, serve as a stark reminder of how the Ministry of Interior, under your command, is corroding the fabric of our law enforcement agencies.
There can be no denying the fact that the terrorist attack on the District Courts of Islamabad, last month, exposed gaping holes in the construct and functioning of our law enforcement apparatus. The frailty of public security, the laxity of police response, and the deficiencies of the ongoing investigation into the matter, are only a few of the many aspects that demand both censure, and a deliberate focus, from those in charge of law enforcement agencies as well as the government. In the aftermath, under the auspices of your ministry, numerous agencies have been collaborating to identify the causes and culprits of this heinous crime. Even the honorable Supreme Court has taken notice of the issue, and ordered that an inquiry be launched as to the reasons for the security lapse that resulted in the death of several lawyers (and an Additional Sessions Judge). The inquiry report has not yet been made public, and in the interregnum, neither your Ministry, nor any other governmental or media outlet, has brought forth material that implicates specific police officers for lapses in the discharge of their duties.
Still, however, yielding to the pressure tactics of a small group of hooligan black-coats, who had parked themselves in front of the Parliament building (with numerous untenable demands, including shifting the District Courts of Islamabad into the IHC building), you ordered the transfer of the Inspector General of Police (Sikandar Hayat), as well as the SSP Operations (Dr. Rizwan). This, ostensibly, was done for no other reason than to simply feed the beast. With political pressure mounting, and no convenient scapegoat available – without any specific cause or justification, or even waiting for the inquiry report to be made public – you decided to continue the past practice of appeasing the public, by undermining the confidence of the security forces.
A few days later, during the proceedings of the ongoing Musharraf treason case, a small understanding took place between DIG of the Islamabad Police (Jan Muhammad), and a local reporter, covering the court proceedings. As it turns out, the DIG (with bona fide intentions) found the reporter to be “suspicious”, and ordered that he be searched, and that his journalistic credentials be checked. This was specifically important, in light of the terrorist attack that had taken place in the District Courts, just a few days before. This journalist resisted the police search and inquiry, creating an unnecessary scene that allowed other media personnel to gather around him, and shout slogans against the police officials. In response to this event, instead of defending the police officers who were performing their lawful duty of protecting the public (and the honorable Judges in the courtroom), you specifically ordered that an “Explanation” (under Police Order and Rules) be called from the DIG. Thereafter, once again ignominiously surrendering to the pressure tactics of media personnel, you took personal interest in ensuring that DIG Jan Muhammad was transferred from his post, without there being any proof or indication of him violating his responsibilities as a police officer.
Sir, at numerous occasions in the past, in several talk shows and press conferences (which is where most of the politicking gets done these days), you have vociferously argued in favor of strengthening the police cadre, and extending operational independence to police officers, without any interference from the political branch of the State. Disappointingly, your actions have not lived up to your rhetoric.
The truth is that the police force in Pakistan, like in all other countries across the world, is the first line of defence against terrorism. Police officials stand at barricades, check-posts, and surround all high profile terrorist targets, with the responsibility to apprehend any and all suspicious activity, in order to save the lives of others. In this regard, at countless instances in the past, numerous police officials – the frontline against terrorism – have had to pay with their own lives. There is no motivation (certainly not in terms of a paltry salary), that would compel police officials to sacrifice their own lives for the cause of a government and a State that neither respects their autonomy nor protects their independence. With the example that you have set, the next DIG, who replaces Jan Muhammad, would never risk ordering the search of a suspicious individual, in the knowledge that the State of Pakistan would not come to his defence. The next IG would never dare to carry out any law enforcement measure that annoys individual members of the bar. And in the shadow of these examples, no police constable would ever dare to stop and check a vehicle that advertises the sticker of a media outlet or a bar council, making it that much easier for the terrorist to succeed in their plans.
A local police official, stationed at the thaana near the District Courts of Islamabad, was recently asked why he did not fire upon the terrorist, on that fateful Tuesday morning. His response, Sir, indicates an ideology of decay that you have further entrenched through your actions. He reportedly said that the last time he fired at a terrorist suspect, and someone died, he was suspended from duty, and had to go through a seven year murder trial that personally cost him 14 lac rupees in legal fees. The State of Pakistan, instead of defending his bona fide actions, prosecuted him for performing his duty. There was no way that he would go through the same again.
Sir, the battle against terrorism will not be won through shady deals with the murderers, or murky negotiations with the Americans. It will not be won through false rhetoric and feigned bravado. It is not being fought on the ground by your colleagues, who live and breathe in the shade of ostentatious protocol. This battle, and the larger war to restore law and order in our country, is being waged by our men and women in uniform, of which police is the very tip of the sword. Your actions have undermined both the confidence and the morale of the police force. And by extension, they have undermined the entire enterprise of law and order in our country.
If there is any chance that the voice of a common citizen can pierce the mighty veil that surrounds your Ministry of Interior, Sir, I hope that you will have the humility to pay heed to it, and the vision to set sails for a brighter and stronger Pakistan.
The writer is a lawyer based in Lahore. He has a Masters in Constitutional Law from Harvard Law School.
Email:saad@post.harvard.edu
Tweets at:@Ch_SaadRasool
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