IT is not really secret that almost all public-sector departments have lost their credibility because of political interference, nepotism and favouritism. Of all these departments, the police force is one of the most affected.

There was a time when the Police Service of Pakistan (PSP) officers, selected from the Civil Superior Services (CSS) qualified batches, were considered impartial and honest officers who would hardly come under any political pressure or allow any political interference in their administrative jurisdiction.

Over the years, however, very few have been known to have resisted the politicisation of police department, and many have been known to have toed the line of those who mattered. The ‘rewards’ for a submissive behaviour are many, including privileges and patronage of the bigwigs; political and otherwise.

The recent appointment of the inspector- general of police in Sindh has apparently ruffled some feathers.

Officers, or, for that matter, all individuals, should never be judged on the basis of ethnic or sectarian grounds. They should be judged on the basis of competence, character, contribution to society, impartiality and honesty. Any other yardstick will only work negatively.

Nabi Bux Sathio
Tando Muhammad Khan

Published in Dawn, September 22th, 2023