EVEN in a situation where public faith in the police is exceedingly low, recent revelations are an eye-opener. It seems that while hapless Karachi residents run the gauntlet each time they step outside, fearing they could become another statistic in the epidemic of street crime gripping the city, many who should be protecting them have been working as domestic staff in police officers’ homes. It is yet another betrayal of the people’s expectation in the ability of the state to protect their lives and property. Consider that the Karachi police has a sanctioned strength of 60,000 but its currently available force stands at 41,000, leaving a shortfall of 19,000 personnel. Several officials speaking to this paper a few days ago revealed that cops deputed to provide security to senior officers were actually running errands for them at their residences, even working as chauffeurs, cooks, gardeners, field hands, etc. In the wake of rising public anger and the criticism of the government over the unabated crime wave, the recently appointed city police chief Ghulam Nabi Memon has ordered the withdrawal of personnel deputed to protect police officers and their families.

While this is a move in the right direction, the fact that matters have even come to such a pass is worth considering. There is a dire need for discipline in law enforcement and for fostering a sense of duty to the public. The politicisation of the police has created a culture of entitlement where the coercive power of the state is seen as a means of self-advancement rather than as an essential function of governance to achieve a well-ordered society. When the government interferes in transfers and postings, and thereby makes abundantly clear that senior police personnel are beholden to their political bosses, the people are automatically excluded from this cosy arrangement. The new police chief has his work cut out for him if he wants to reclaim the streets from criminals and give Karachiites a reason to have faith in law enforcement.

Published in Dawn, March 20th, 2022