on them.
No doubt, there is evidence regarding political interference in police, but since last few months, the government has started appointing police officers on merit. However, it could be too early to tell how police officials deputed on merit will perform their duties with professional attitude and on merit, negating calls and instructions from political high-ups.
Political interference in police has reached an alarming scale. This is because of the government’s negative attitude. The people who were appointed directly as DSP in police during the PPP’s first tenure on political grounds have got promotions now to the rank of DIG and now they are protecting the interests of political leaders in their respective jurisdictions. Not only PPP, PML-N also appointed their favourites on key positions in police on political grounds, similarly ethnic and other religious parties also managed to appoint their people on key posts in police. Amid this scenario when successive governments have been responsible for degradation of the police force and employ police for protection of their interests. How reforms process in police could be successful when police have been suffering from corruption cancer.
Whenever initiatives for reforms in police system have been taken, the higher authorities hold responsible ‘Thana Culture’ and make tall claims to end this anti-justice system. All such tall claims end in futile exercise later.
It is a fact that whichever political party comes to power, ‘Thana Culture’ cannot be changed as politics of the politicians of Sindh and Punjab is dependent on this culture. Through this ‘Thana Culture,’ politicians not only take illegal benefits but also settle legal and illegal issues of their voters and shield criminals for their vested interests.
The stance of high-ups sitting on key positions in police department and responsible for reforms process in police is wrong that police system cannot be reformed. The reality is that responsible elements don’t want a reformed police force and an end to ‘Thana Culture’ as this culture protects their interests.
To end ‘Thana Culture,’ we need sincere efforts, patriotism and seriousness. And sincere and serious efforts are being made in Khyber-Pakhtunkhwa to bring change in ‘Thana Culture’ as the police chief of the province in a short span of time got improved police system to a larger extent and turned police into an exemplary force. No doubt, the government should prioritise to end political interference in police affairs to make police a competent force.