KARACHI: After the perceived successful launching of operation by police during the 1990s against lawlessness in the city, the police were “intentionally” demoralised and destroyed by the regime before 2008, said the minister for local government on Thursday without naming any coalition partner or rulers at that time.

Saeed Ghani, speaking at the launch of three books, Basic Investigation, Human Rights and Community Policing, in English, Urdu and Sindhi, at the Central Police Office, said that policemen were “mercilessly” killed as their bodies were found in gunny bags and their families were not deliberately looked after by the government at that time.

Mr Ghani said that now the situation had improved but its credit did not solely go to the Rangers. He said the police, intelligence agencies and army had also played a tremendous role in improving the law and order situation in the city.

Three books on investigation, human rights, community policing launched

Sindh IG Syed Kaleem Imam said he hoped that the three books, which have been made compulsory subjects at the police training centres, would help improve the “conduct and performance” of the police.

Victim support programme planned

Referring to the recent launch of the ‘Brave citizen’ programme through which the citizens were being encouraged to provide information about crimes and criminals, Mr Imam said the police were also contemplating launching a ‘Victim support programme’ to develop sympathy and support for the victims of lawlessness in the city.

The IG described Clifton SP Suhai Aziz as “the officer of the month” and applauded her role during the recent attack on the Chinese consulate.

Ex-IG Mohammad Akbar, co-author of Basic Investigation, said that the “faulty” criminal justice system was partly the outcome of “defective investigation” by police. He said that defective investigation had been the result of lack of training modules.

The book focuses on two elements: to curb arbitrary or improper use of powers by investigation officers (IOs) during probes and preparing IOs to write and file cases before the courts themselves.

The other co-author of the book, DIG (headquarters) A. Khalique Shaikh, highlighted the background of the book and assistance provided by the Bureau of International Narcotics and Law Enforcement Affairs (INL).

Ex-IG Niaz Siddiqi, co-author of Protecting Human Rights, said he hoped that now human rights would not only be observed but respected and implemented by the police.

He said that the Constitution and laws provided several guarantees against arbitrary arrest, fair trial and protection from torture, including non-physical torture. Mr Siddiqi said that with the use of modern technology in investigation, the practice of extracting confession from accused persons would be ended.

Iqbal Detho, co-author of Community Policing, urged the Sindh government to incorporate community policing in the proposed Sindh police law on the pattern of Khyber Pakhtunkhwa.

DIG for training Sharjeel Kharal said the purpose of the three books as part of the police training curriculum was to bring the Sindh police at par with international standards of policing. The deputy director of the INL in Pakistan, Chris Begraust, highlighted the role of his organisation in supporting the Sindh police in improving their infrastructure and investigation.

Former IGs, the US consul general, former judges and civil society organisation representatives attended the launching ceremony of the books at the Sindh police head office.

Published in Dawn, December 7th, 2018