SUMMARY of the Article “New Challenges” by Mohammad Ali Babakhel, Dawn [Published on December 30th, 2023]
The landscape of crime in Pakistan has evolved due to technological innovations, posing new challenges for law enforcement. However, the existing law enforcement structures, legal frameworks, and procedures remain entrenched in a colonial past. The country relies heavily on a numerical policing model, which is increasingly inadequate against the complexities brought by globalization and technological advancements. Organized criminals and terrorists exploit technology efficiently, emphasizing the need for a balanced approach that combines traditional policing with innovative, technology-led solutions. Disparities between external and internal security policies present new challenges, requiring effective communication and a democratic ethos. Administrative decisions, including reforms, have historically impacted the quality of law enforcement, resulting in oscillations between bureaucratic and political control. Pakistan’s low ranking in the Rule of Law Index underlines the urgency for comprehensive reforms supported by political commitment, public backing, and increased funding. The post-9/11 era has expanded the security duties of the police, affecting their preventive and investigative functions. Militancy has led to the militarization of the police, impacting public service delivery and creating a gap between the police and the community. The loss of police officers in the line of duty necessitates a critical examination of recruitment, training, and supervision processes. The structural vulnerability of police stations and human rights issues also need attention. Over-legislation without effective enforcement, widespread availability of weapons, and a comprehensive de-weaponization strategy are essential for improving governance and addressing challenges in crime, disorder, and terrorism. Stakeholder involvement in lawmaking and enforcement is crucial for effective law enforcement. A statistical approach is recommended for assessing policing quality, with updated training modules focusing on contemporary challenges.
Easy/Short SUMMARY:
The article discusses the impact of technological evolution on crime in Pakistan and highlights the outdated nature of law enforcement structures. It emphasizes the need for a balanced approach that combines traditional policing with innovative, technology-led solutions. Disparities in security policies, historical administrative decisions, and the post-9/11 era’s challenges have affected law enforcement. The militarization of the police, loss of officers, and structural vulnerabilities in police stations require critical examination and improvement. The article calls for comprehensive reforms, a de-weaponization strategy, effective law enforcement, and stakeholder involvement. It suggests a statistical approach for assessing policing quality and updated training modules to address contemporary challenges.
SOLUTIONS of The Problem:
1. Integrated Technological Solutions:
- Integrate technology into law enforcement for effective crime prevention and detection.
2. Reform in Security Policies:
- Bridge gaps between external and internal security policies through effective communication and a democratic ethos.
3. Holistic Reforms in Law Enforcement:
- Implement comprehensive reforms in law enforcement, addressing structural, administrative, and procedural shortcomings.
4. Post-9/11 Policing Adaptations:
- Adapt law enforcement strategies to effectively balance expanded security duties post-9/11 without compromising preventive and investigative functions.
5. Community-Police Relations Enhancement:
- Enhance community-police relations through interactive approaches facilitated by technology.
6. Addressing Militancy Impact:
- Address the impact of militancy on police militarization, public service delivery, and the gap between police and community.
7. Critical Examination of Recruitment and Training:
- Critically examine and improve police recruitment, training, and supervision processes in light of increased risks and challenges.
8. Structural Vulnerability Mitigation:
- Mitigate the structural vulnerability of police stations, particularly in peripheral areas, to reduce susceptibility to attacks.
9. Human Rights-Centric Approach:
- Adopt a human rights-centric approach to counter issues arising from the “war on terror” and build a positive police image.
10. Comprehensive De-weaponization Strategy:
- Develop and implement a comprehensive, long-term de-weaponization strategy, including revising arms policies and encouraging voluntary surrender of illegal arms.
IMPORTANT Facts and Figures Given in the Article:
- Rule of Law Index Ranking: Pakistan’s low ranking in the recent Rule of Law Index, particularly in categories like order and security, criminal justice, and human rights.
- Post-9/11 Impact: The post-9/11 era has significantly increased the security duties of police, affecting their preventive and investigative functions.
- Police Losses: Thousands of police officers in Pakistan have been lost in the line of duty, reflecting the proficiency of militants.
- Legislation Gap: The gap between lawmaking and enforcement is evident in laws where the police are direct or indirect stakeholders.
- Training Facilities: Existing training facilities, including the National Police Academy, nine training colleges, and 22 schools, are inadequate to address modern challenges faced by over 500,000 police personnel.
MCQs from the Article:
- What model does Pakistan heavily rely on in policing?
A. Technological
B. Numerical
C. Innovative
D. Globalized -
What is emphasized as crucial for bridging gaps between internal and external security policies?
A. Technological advancements
B. Effective communication and a democratic ethos
C. Numerical policing
D. Traditional approaches -
What has affected law enforcement due to administrative decisions, including reforms, in Pakistan?
A. Increased efficiency
B. Negative impact on standards and performance
C. Enhanced organizational integrity
D. Improved public safety -
What does the article recommend for assessing the quality of policing?
A. Public satisfaction metrics
B. Statistical approach
C. Technology-centric analysis
D. Training module evaluation -
Which index reflects Pakistan’s low ranking, indicating the need for comprehensive reforms?
A. Technological Development Index
B. Global Policing Index
C. Rule of Law Index
D. Crime Prevention Index
VOCABULARY:
- Nefarious (adjective) (خبیث): Wicked, villainous, or criminal.
- Proficiently (adverb) (ماہرانہ): In a skilled and competent manner.
- Ethos (noun) (ارتقاء اخلاقی): The characteristic spirit or beliefs of a community, culture, or individual.
- Oscillating (verb) (ہلک پلک): Moving or swinging back and forth at a regular speed.
- Adversely (adverb) (مختلف صورت میں): In a way that has a harmful or negative effect.
- Militarized (adjective) (فوجی): Equipped or transformed for military use.
- Custodians (noun) (حافظ): Those who have responsibility for taking care of or protecting something.
- De-weaponization (noun) (ہتھیاروں کا کم کرنا): The process of reducing the number of weapons or eliminating them.
- Pre-enactment (adjective) (قانون سازی سے پہلے): Occurring or existing before the enactment of a law.
- Contemporary (adjective) (معاصر): Belonging to or occurring in the present.
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dawn.com
New challenges
BY Mohammad Ali Babakhel
IN Pakistan, technological innovation has altered the nature of crime, yet law-enforcement remains mired in an outdated organisational structure, legal framework, and procedures, reflecting its colonial past. Former colonies with dense populations, like Pakistan, rely heavily on a numerical policing model. This approach is increasingly ineffective against the tougher challenges posed by globalisation and technological advancements. In contrast, organised criminals and terrorists are proficiently utilising technology for nefarious purposes. This scenario calls for a balanced approach, combining traditional numerical policing with innovative, technology-led solutions. Technology can be instrumental in enhancing interactive community relations and preventing and detecting crime.
Law enforcement faces new challenges due to disparities between external and internal security policies. Historically, negotiations with militants resulted in escalation of violence against police and negatively impacted the peace index. Bridging the gaps between internal and external security policies is crucial and needs effective communication coupled with a democratic ethos.
Historically, some administrative decisions, including administrative and police reforms, impacted the quality of law enforcement in Pakistan. Such decisions negatively impact policing standards and performance. For instance, the merger of FATA with KP increased the number of personnel in KP Police but posed new challenges. Likewise, converting ‘B’ areas into ‘A’ in Balochistan and reversing the decision in 2008 adversely impacted law enforcement. Since its inception, policing in Pakistan has been a contentious subject, oscillating between bureaucratic and political control, which has adversely affected organisational integrity, public interest, and safety.
Pakistan’s low ranking in the recent Rule of Law Index, particularly in categories like order and security, criminal justice, and human rights, underscores the urgent need for comprehensive reforms supported by political commitment, public backing, and increased funding.
The post-9/11 era has significantly increased the security duties of police, burdening them and affecting their preventive and investigative functions. Police Order, 2002, and KP Police Act, 2017, which provide a legal framework for external accountability, are yet to be fully implemented. The US exit from Afghanistan has facilitated militants’ access to advanced weaponry. KP Police’s establishment of an explosives handling school is a proactive measure in building capacity to counter these threats. However, the rise in militancy has also led to police becoming increasingly militarised, affecting public service delivery and widening the gap between police and community.
Police security duties have increased in the post-9/11 era.
Pakistan has seen the loss of thousands of police officers in the line of duty, reflecting the militants’ deadly proficiency. This situation necessitates a critical examination and improvement of police recruitment, training, and supervision processes. Additionally, the structural design of police stations, especially in areas located in the peripheries, has made them more vulnerable to militant attacks.
The ‘war on terror’ has also brought to light several human rights issues, tarnishing the image of the police as custodians of fundamental human rights. The widespread availability of weapons, influenced by both internal and external factors like preferential arms policies and a tribal and feudal social fabric, has aggravated challenges in crime, disorder, and terrorism. A comprehensive, long-term de-weaponisation strategy, including the revision of arms policies and voluntary surrender of illegal arms, is imperative.
Pakistan’s tendency to over-legislate, often without effective enforcement, undermines the standards of governance. The gap between lawmaking and enforcement is particularly evident in laws where the police are direct or indirect stakeholders. Effective law enforcement demands stakeholder involvement in both the pre-enactment consultation and post-implementation review phases to ensure the effectiveness of laws.
To assess the quality of policing, a statistical approach is preferable over solely relying on public satisfaction metrics. The existing training facilities, including the National Police Academy, nine training colleges, and 22 schools, are inadequate to address the modern challenges faced by over 500,000 police personnel. Training modules need to be updated to cater to contemporary issues such as the nexus between militants and organised criminals, sectarian violence, and terror financing. Emphasis should be placed on capacity building and public satisfaction, with a shift towards short-duration, focused online training programmes.
The writer is author of Pakistan: In Between Extremism and Peace.
Twitter: @alibabakhel
Published in Dawn, December 30th, 2023