IT is not for nothing that they call him Tiger. Those who didn’t know him until Tuesday have now seen that when he is in action, even the law enforcers can do little other than watch in apparent admiration. His workmanlike demolition of many vehicles during the ugly confrontation in Lahore is on record. Television footage shows a middle-aged man smashing cars as police look on in silence that has been interpreted as a sign of approval. There is more footage that actually shows some police officers in conversation with the angry man, who, news reports say is a PML-N worker. Rana Sanaullah, the Punjab law minister, disagrees with the identification, but even he, with his persuasive powers, has been unable to stem the bad coverage his party is getting in the media. A lot of people may be inclined to believe what the media is saying. People are all too aware of how the authority of a ruling party manifests itself in its workers’ influence over the local thana and its close relationship with local police officers. This is how the system works beneath this ceaseless chorus of declarations about making the police people-friendly. The police are friendly with the people. At least, they are always friendly and cooperative with the ‘right’ people.

There has been plenty of talk about reforming the police culture. There has been some change. Despite that, overall, the old image of police officials playing the obliging minions to whosoever is in power persists. It is a serious issue whether the suspect in this case belongs to the ruling party or not, but even if the seemingly difficult task of disconnecting him from the PML-N is somehow achieved, the question of the police extending him patronage will linger. At the very least, the incident betrays a loose control over the forces of those with the avowed motto of good governance — whereas good governance at the level of ordinary people cannot come without a thana that is truly independent.

Published in Dawn, June 19th, 2014