KARACHI: Complaints against police worry ombudsman
By Habib Khan Ghori
KARACHI, June 23: During 2002 the provincial ombudsman provided monetary relief in 492 cases — to the tune of more than Rs184 million — as against 260 cases of more than Rs68.39 million in 2001. Non-monetary relief was provided in 439 cases during the year.
In addition, the ombudsman secretariat admitted 1,594 complaints for subsequent investigation, according to its annual report. The defunct KMC, KWSB and other local committees featured in 381 of the complaints.
The local government department is followed by the police and education departments, with 313 and 229 complaints respectively. The number of complaints against the KDA/KBCA stood at 133. This includes the complaints against the Housing and Town Planning Department.
The report said the number of complaints against the police department were 313, representing a two-fold increased as compared to the previous year. This increase is alarming by all standards.
The large number of complaints against this department point towards the unabated trend of misbehaviour and harassment, especially by police picket and patrol parties stationed at various crossings, turnings and streets, said the report.
Admittedly, instances of high-handedness in the name of law enforcement are highly agonizing, humiliating and underline the need for remedial steps.
Numerous complaints of different nature have been filed against the utility and other service departments. The indifferent and grilling attitude of these service departments is the main cause of extreme dissatisfaction among the public, according to the report.
The performance of the basic service departments determines the quality and standard of life. Sound public health depended on the efficient and undisturbed operation of the system, the report said.
The ombudsman secretariat had done its best to mitigate the suffering and took all measures as per equity and law to redress the grievances and to build confidence of the people in the government’s good intentions, claimed the report. It pointed out that the misconception of the complainants was removed whenever the agencies were found working within the framework of the law, rule and practice.
One hundred and forty-nine complaints were filed against the KMC, 92 against the KWSB and 263 against all other Local Committees in Sindh.
Besides, 313 complaints were filed against the home or police departments; 229 against education; 137 against housing and planning (HDA, LDA, MDA etc); 133 against KDA/KBCA; 119 against revenue; 67 against irrigation and power; 35 against health department, 29 against excise and taxation department, 24 against communication and works; 23 against S&GAD, 18 against agriculture and livestock; 15 against industries and mineral development; 14 against food and cooperation; 11 against labour and transport; 11 against zakat and ushr; 11 against social welfare; 10 against forest and fisheries; 7 against finance department; and, 7 against planning development. No complaints were found worth investigating against the population welfare and information departments.
Monetary Relief: Payment of outstanding bills for work done or material supplied or miscellaneous stood at Rs29.85 million in 90 cases.
Payment of pension and service dues and benevolent fund in 273 cases, to the tune of more than Rs152 million. Land compensation in five cases, to the tune of over Rs0.65 million, and refund against non-allotment of plots or unlawful recoveries in 103 cases.
Death compensation or miscellaneous in 11 cases (Rs0.3 million). Recovery of amounts or articles snatched by police in two cases (Rs10,000).
Non-Monetary relief was provided in 439 cases during the year, in comparison to 295 in the year 2000 and 302 in 2001.
The nature of relief provided under this sector mostly pertained to action against illegal police custody, non-registration of FIRs and in respect of provision of basic amenities, alternate plots of land, physical possession of plot or land, grant of lease of land, removal of encroachment, admissions to and upgradation of education institutions, issuance of education certificates or degrees and marks-sheets, declaration of results, non-construction or repair of roads, bridges, water courses, supply of irrigation water and mutation of government quarters.
