Police Reforms in Pakistan

Mukhtar Ahmad AliCentre for Peace and Development Initiatives,

Pakistan

Background: Why Police Reforms?

• Deteriorating public safety situation• Widespread corruption• Human rights violations• Political victimization• Weak accountability• Inadequate availability of resources

– Inefficient utilization of resources

• Outdated legal and institutional framework

Political Context

• Growing Demand– From within police– Civil society pressure

• Serious Law and Order Challenges– Balochistan– NWFP

• Increased International Interest– ADB support for access to Justice project– Support for counter-terrorism

• Military Govt.’s Struggle for Legitimacy

New Legal Framework

• Office of Deputy Commissioner Abolished

• Local Government Ordinance 2001

• Police Order 2002

Local Government Ordinance 2001

• Powers and Responsibilities Devolved to:

– District governments – (Distt. Nazim)– Tehsil/ Town Municipal Administration (Tehsil/ Town

Nazim)– Union Administration (Union Nazim)

• Role of District Nazim in Law and Order• Union Public Safety Committees (UPSCs)

Police Order 2002 (I)

• Goal – a professional, service oriented and democratically accountable police service

• Duties and Responsibilities Clearly Defined

• Public Oversight Bodies Established

– National Public Safety Commission– Provincial Public Safety & Police Complaints Commission– District Public Safety and Police Complaints Commission

Police Order 2002 (II)

• Mechanisms aimed at Insulating Police Service against Political Interference

• Separation of Investigation from Watch & Ward

• Role of District Govt. vis-à-vis Police:– Watch and ward/ law and order– Distt. Nazim writes a part of the ‘performance evaluation’ report

of Distt. Police Officer – Distt. Council elects one-third members for District Public Safety

and Police Complaints Commission– Oversight by Union Public Safety Committees

• Annual Policing Plan

Implementation Challenges (I)

• Public Safety Commissions not Functional or Effective– Delayed establishment– Non-cooperative police officers– Limited capacity– Limited public trust

• Separation of Investigation from Watch & Ward– Resistance by Distt. Police Officers– Rivalry– Under-resourced investigation branch– People have to deal with more officers

Implementation Challenges (II)

• Political Interference/ Autonomy– CM’s interference in appointments/ transfers– No security of tenure– Weak performance evaluation systems/ annual policing plans

Causes of Weak/ Slow Implementation

• Lack of Ownership by Provincial Governments– Demanded amendments on some aspects– Chose not to implement others

• Inter-departmental Differences or Weak Cooperation– (involving police, district management group, local govts.,

judiciary)

• Lack of transparency/ culture of secrecy

• Weak Civil Society Oversight and Engagement

• Weak Parliamentary Oversight

Way Forward

• Ownership by political parties / provincial governments

• Capacity Building of Members of Public Safety Commissions

• Oversight by Parliamentary Committees

• Stronger Civil Society Engagement

• Transparency/ Public Information System