Arrest without proof

The strange system in the country in which a person can be arrested and charges brought against him or her merely on the basis of a First Information Report has been questioned by the National Police Bureau. The bureau has pointed out that Pakistan is one of the few countries were someone can be arrested merely on the basis of their name being placed in an FIR. In many cases, these allegations may be made on a malicious basis or because of personal enmity. Arrests following the lodging of an FIR are especially common when the person approaching the police is influential and can exert pressure to arrest the person named in the FIR. The NPB has suggested that to resolve this problem, FIRs be lodged only on a scientific basis and after establishing that some evidence exists. Advice to this effect is being sent out to provincial and regional police departments. It has also been recommended that people who put forward false information be charged under relevant sections of the PBC as a means to deter them.
At present, anyone can lodge an FIR making serious accusations without having to put forward any proof. Indeed, it should be noted this is the favoured method used in blasphemy cases, where pressure from extremist forces then leads to a domino effect with matters quickly going beyond the reach of law enforcing authorities. Clearly, the suggestions made by the bureau are desirable ones. We need to improve the entire system of how police investigations are conducted and how arrests are made. There are too many potential loopholes in the manner in which FIRs are lodged. These reports must not be used as a way to score points against rivals or take revenge but as a genuine means to examine the commission of a crime. We also need a major improvement in investigation methods. Moving towards police reform in a situation where the rate of crime continues to soar must be a priority for all concerned. The NPB’s initiative is welcome. Keeping in mind the various other police reforms that are needed, let us hope this initiative will be properly followed up on by the departments in various parts of the country.