Two gatherings have been really marvellous during the last few days. One was Akhuwat-fame Dr Amjad Saqib's organized gathering of needy persons at the historic Badshahi Mosque and the other was Captain ( r ) Amin Wains' organized cops-cum-public moot at Police Lines Lahore. As the reporter inside me is always in the quest for more and more information, I took advantage of the 'standing invitation' (to me, it is 'standing ovation') to have a look at both the events and find out myself as to what is going on in the corridors of 'Akhuwat' (Brotherhood) and Lahore Police under the captainship of Dr. Amjad and Captain ( r ) Amin Wains, the CCPO of the provincial metropolis.
The common thing that I found in the two was mass conversion a la Dr Amjad style and a la Capt Amin style. What else should we call the transformation of the destitute into self-sustaining individuals? What else should we call the transformation of hardnosed cops of the past into servants of the depressed and oppressed people?
For the cops in particular, it is certainly a conversion, to quote the aged lady Mussarat Bibi, whom I met at Police Lines Lahore and listened to her 'astonishing and comforting experience' that she had had during her interaction with Gulberg Police Station officials. For the aged lady, it was such a different and soothing experience to get back her mentally challenged daughter who had left her mother in the market on getting a bit annoyed over a trivial, personal issue. "I had never interacted with police people in the past and moreover, I had the impression that police people were cruel and didn't listen to grievances of the poor, ordinary people. But when my daughter got lost, the way the Admin Officer ASI Muhammad Ali cooperated with me, I had the feeling as if I'm living in a land of peace and justice where the poor, wretched people are protected against all kinds of exploitation and misery. I pray to Creator to reward Lahore Police for bringing back my lifelong asset, my daughter, Besides taking prompt action in locating and reaching my daughter, the cop also gave me unprecedented respect and continued to console me throughout the period during which he completed the mission."
Mussarrat Bibi's appreciation is one thing and the inherent benevolence of the admin officers system is another milestone in the history of Lahore Police. I'm also left wondering as to how smoothly and effectively is this system working in bringing about relief, honour and comfort in the lives of the citizenry who had been running from pillar to post in the past to no avail. Hitherto, till the bygone days, it has been a nightmare to report an occurrence to a police station as the complainants were at times subjected to rough treatment whereas the yet softer cops would demonstrate total indifference. But, now things stand altogether changed, as observed by scores of aggrieved persons who got relief courtesy the changed system. With small variations of expression, they say that the change that they have been longing for, has come and thank God it has come in the police department whose interaction with masses is colossal and widespread.
Taking cue from these observations plus some research, I think the wonder element lies in the basic designing of this system invented by Mr Wains to make it public-responsive and public-oriented. It is on this account that I wrote about the system in the past after interviewing scores of ordinary citizens who got relief through this innovation. I arrived at the conclusion that good policing needs no PC-1. PC-1 metaphor was used to explain that for a cop, the only trigger point for (welfare) action is his will to help and his placing in a network that is being monitored directly at the level of Capital City Police Officer with no one there in between. As for this 'in between' factor, it has been unfortunately promoting laziness, inefficiency and cruel attitudes in the past (borrowing the word cruel from Mussarrat Bibi).
But I've information that some hard nuts within the system have also been identified and they have been taken to task since the police have realized that public is the ultimate master and judge whose grievances ought to be redressed. It was heartening to know from CCPO Amin Wains that around 300 Lahore cops have embraced martyrdom while defending their fellow countrymen and "the mission goes on, come what may" (to quote Wains).
Probing the things a little bit deeper, it came to the fore that the soldier inside the cops' hearts is not only confined to captain's personality rather a good few cops are now soldiers in their hearts, mind and deeds. The times have taught them to be brave and fair. This is also true about the cops of KPK, Balochistan, Sindh and other areas who have washed away all the blemishes of the distant past when some black sheep amongst them had brought bad name to this department although after the armed services, the police department is one of the best forums to earn the pleasure and recognition of the masses.
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