Favouritism marring performance of cops

Islamabad
Having 'connections' in power corridors is sufficient for success in our society. Senior police officials are no exception. It is difficult for them to vacate the seat for someone else and try to keep on working on the same post after completion of their tenures against rules and regulations by using their influence and links in power circles.
Police officials focus on establishing relations not only with politicians but also with high-ups for their future appointments on 'lucrative seats' and to maximise their perks and privileges, negating the importance of merit.
When a police official, who has been serving in the PM House for last three years, got orders to join duties somewhere else, he used his 'influence' and 'connections' and managed to get cancelled his transfer orders and continued performing duty in the PM House against all rules and regulations.
This is not a unique case as it is being practiced not only in police service, but in all government departments where blue-eyed officials having 'sound links' with high-ups get seats of their choice.The violation of merit in transfers and postings is a matter of disappointment for those officials who rise in ranks only because of their performance and ability. Such practices undermine the achievements and performance of competent officials.
Our police culture is notorious because of these shortcuts where police officials from top to bottom played cat’s paw role in the hands of politicians and influential individuals and at the cost of their legal and constitutional responsibilities fulfil interests of these high-ups to gain benefits for vested interests and vice-versa.
Sometimes, it has also been observed that police officials deputed in police stations have to take a 'clearance chit' from MPs and played puppet's role while performing duties in police stations on the instructions of MPAs and MNAs.
At grassroots level in the police department, ASIs, SIs and inspectors if remain committed and neutral to fulfil their legal responsibilities on merit and with transparency have also to face wrath of politicians and high-ups and have to pay in form of their transfers for violating instructions of influential individuals. In such circumstances, police officials are left with the option of either conceding to the chits of the high-ups or to become a rolling stone.
A number of reforms were introduced to bring change in police culture during last 67 years but police culture has never been improved and even today the majority of people get scared while visiting police stations to file reports of wrongdoings committed against them without the phone call or a chit from any influential individual.
Bills and ordinances are being tabled to free police from political influence and all successive governments made tall claims about transforming the police culture but in the end all proved wrong and police continued to protect the interests of high-ups for their vested interests.
Amidst ongoing security challenges, police can play vital and decisive role to purge society from extremist and terrorist elements if provided opportunities and resources with mutual coordination of security agencies. Police can play the front-line role against extremists as it remain in constant contact with public but the issue is only capacity and resources and competent officials.
Red tape and 'influence' is taking toll of competent officials who do not have 'connections' which forces them to perform their duties halfheartedly.
A top police officer, when contacted for comments on such issues, confirmed the report with the condition not to reveal his identity, saying, “Many transfers and postings are cancelled on phone calls.”