Justice system on trial: Police fear despite successfully neutralising criminals

Islamabad: Law enforcement agencies, despite successfully neutralising hazardous criminals involved in monstrous, often choose to conceal their own role in these operations. Rather than taking credit for eliminating these 'enemies of society and the state' in armed encounters, police frequently claim the suspects were killed by friendly fire from their own accomplices. This peculiar practice, driven by certain unspoken reasons, turns potential public acclaim into discredit. This reluctance to claim success highlights the lack of confidence in the justice system.

This bizarre behavior is a direct symptom of a failing and outdated justice system, one that makes law enforcement officials hesitant to take decisive action against anti-state and anti-public elements. These officials often argue that a powerful elite-which views the criminal justice system as an obstacle to their own interests-is constantly working to undermine it. This persistent conspiracy has effectively sabotaged efforts to implement meaningful reforms, leading to a system that has been hijacked by the very people it was designed to hold accountable.

In the ongoing struggle against anti-social elements, a troubling trend has emerged that threatens to undermine the very foundation of law enforcement. Defense attorneys are increasingly utilising the deaths of targeted individuals during crackdowns as a powerful tool to weaken the prosecution's case. By framing these fatalities as extrajudicial killings, they successfully shift the narrative, casting a shadow of doubt over the motives and actions of police officers, terming as extrajudicial killing.

This strategy has a profound impact on the judicial process. The focus of the trial is often diverted from the criminal's actions to the circumstances of their death. Legal loopholes are exploited to portray law enforcement officials as cold-blooded murderers, transforming criminals into sympathetic victims in the eyes of the court and the public.

The consequences of this legal maneuver extend far beyond the courtroom. It creates a palpable sense of demoralization within the police force, whose members risk their lives daily to protect society. When their heroic efforts are met not with commendation but with accusations of murder, it erodes their morale and commitment to the cause. This narrative shift poses a significant challenge, not only to the integrity of the legal system but also to the safety and security of the community they serve.

The primary culprit behind this bizarre behavior is an outmoded and feeble criminal justice system. This system's failure has created an environment where law enforcement is hesitant to take decisive action against criminals. According to police officials, a powerful, elite class perceives the criminal justice system as an obstacle to their interests and actively works to undermine it. This class, with its immense influence, has effectively hijacked the system, ensuring that all efforts to implement fair and just reforms are met with failure.

The criminal justice system is riddled with structural weaknesses that contribute to its failure. Many laws and legal procedures are relics of a bygone era, failing to address the complexities of modern crime.

The system is susceptible to corruption, with powerful individuals and groups able to manipulate legal outcomes. Police and judicial institutions often suffer from a severe lack of funding, resources, and adequate training, hindering their ability to function effectively.

Courts are often overwhelmed with cases, leading to significant delays and backlogs. This lengthy process can demoralize victims and witnesses and allow suspects to exploit legal loopholes.

The failure to address these weaknesses has created a system that is slow, inefficient, and often unable to deliver justice. While it is tempting to place the blame squarely on the judiciary, the reality is more nuanced. The judiciary is a critical component of the criminal justice system, and its inefficiencies certainly contribute to the overall catastrophe. However, it is an oversimplification to hold it solely responsible. The judiciary operates within a flawed legal and political framework, and its actions are often constrained by the same powerful forces that undermine the entire system. Therefore, while judicial reform is essential, it must be part of a broader effort to overhaul the entire criminal justice system, including law enforcement, legislative, and prosecutorial bodies.

For the criminal justice system to survive and regain public trust, a comprehensive and multi-pronged approach is necessary. The system needs a complete overhaul, starting with the modernization of laws and procedures. A key step is to protect the judiciary and law enforcement from political interference and corruption.