Strong political will is required to implement reforms in the police system. This was stated by Dr Muhammad Shoaib Suddle, former Inspector General Police (IGP), in an exclusive chat with this correspondent. He emphasized that reforms in Punjab police are possible only if the present government shows political will. "Only operationally independent, politically neutral, highly accountable and professionally competent police can ensure equal application of the law," he said.
Suddle said that the Constitution of Pakistan guarantees everyone be treated equal before the law and non fulfillment of this basic guarantee gives birth to serious problems. All over the world the performance of police force is reviewed in terms of its service delivery as well as how much the public is satisfied with its service, he said.
"The main job of the police is enforcement of law and if police enforce law without fear or favour, across the board and vulnerable sections of society are satisfied with their service...then these are qualities a good police force must equip itself with," he observed, adding that police force should be efficient and effective in terms of enforcing the law.
Afzal Ali Shigri, former IGP, said that police system remains in the grip of political influence and the government must try to depoliticize the police, especially in Punjab. He said that political governments do not want to dilute their direct control over the police and want to make police totally subservient to them which resulted in weakening law enforcement.
So far, 29 to 30 commissions have been set up for police reforms and these commissions have submitted their reports but unfortunately nothing has been done, he regretted, adding that if PTI manages to implement the reforms from the provincial assembly of Punjab, it will be a big achievement.
He said that the commitment of the present government regarding reforming the Punjab police has been severely compromised after former IGP Khyber Pakhtunkhwa Nasir Khan Durrani resigned as head of the Commission on Police Reforms and Implementation.
A senior serving police official said on condition of anonymity that the politicians feel it their right to interfere in and influence the police. Transfer and posting orders of high officials and low ranking officers are done on favourtism, he said, adding that without ending political interference in the police department it is impossible to improve or reform police system in the country.
Following Sahiwal incident, Prime Minister Imran Khan constituted yet another high power committee to suggest reforms in the Punjab police on the pattern of those in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa, giving a prime role to Interior Secretary Maj Azam Suleman (retd) and Principal Secretary to the Prime Minister Muhammad Azam Khan.
The chief secretaries of Punjab and Khyber Pakhtunkhwa, Yousuf Naseem Khokhar and Naveed Kamran, have been appointed as members of the committee. IGP Punjab Amjad Javed Saleemi and IGP Khyber Pakhunkhwa Salahuddin Khan Mehsud will also be part of the committee.