Police brutality

Cases of police brutality are all too familiar, not just in Pakistan, but around the world. The difference here is how the initial official reaction is not to express sympathy with the victim and demand a thorough investigation but to become defensive and even blame those who have been killed. Even our recent past is replete with such examples, from the killings of two young brothers at a check-post in Rawalpindi last year to the Kharotabad incident in 2011 and the Rangers murder of Sarfaraz Shah in 2011.      To that we can now add the killing of a tea vendor, Fayyaz, in Faisalabad, who was allegedly tortured to death for presenting a bill to a police officer instead of serving the refreshments gratis. The police response to this was typical: the victim was accused of being a drug addict who was killed by some unknown person. Even though Fayyaz’s brother said the police had killed him, the official response has been one of denial. At this point, one is not sure how justice will ever be served. Those in uniform all too often treat the very public that pays its salaries as little more than serfs who have no choice but to obey their every command – no matter how lawless that command may be.

To make matters worse, Punjab Law Minister Rana Sanaullah appeared on Geo TV and launched a tirade against the channel for irresponsible journalism. Once again, this attitude is prevalent among those in power. They blame the media for reporting the news when it reflects badly on them and hope their stature and bluster will muzzle the press. Sanaullah perhaps should have thought better of outright denying police brutality, especially a few days before the anniversary 2014 Model Town incident. The law minister seems so confident that the police have nothing to do with the killing that he has even offered to resign if he is proven wrong.  We all know that ministers often make such statements with no intention of following through but perhaps it is time to hold Rana Sanaullah to his word. He should immediately order an independent enquiry and let Fayyaz’s family file an FIR against whomever they decide to nominate. The judiciary, too, could take suo motu notice should the police fail to act. It is rare for judgement to be served in such cases but for once we should refuse to stop paying attention until the perpetrators are behind bars.