Police Reforms in Pakistan Mukhtar Ahmad Ali Centre for Peace and Development Initiatives, Pakistan

Background: Why Police Reforms? Deteriorating public safety situation Widespread corruption Human rights violations Political victimization Weak accountability Inadequate availability of resources –Inefficient utilization of resources Outdated legal and institutional framework

Political Context Growing Demand –From within police –Civil society pressure Serious Law and Order Challenges –Balochistan –NWFP Increased International Interest –ADB support for access to Justice project –Support for counter-terrorism Military Govt.’s Struggle for Legitimacy

New Legal Framework Office of Deputy Commissioner Abolished Local Government Ordinance 2001 Police Order 2002

Local Government Ordinance 2001 Powers and Responsibilities Devolved to: –District governments – (Distt. Nazim) –Tehsil/ Town Municipal Administration (Tehsil/ Town Nazim) –Union Administration (Union Nazim) Role of District Nazim in Law and Order Union Public Safety Committees (UPSCs)

Police Order 2002 (I) Goal – a professional, service oriented and democratically accountable police service Duties and Responsibilities Clearly Defined Public Oversight Bodies Established –National Public Safety Commission –Provincial Public Safety & Police Complaints Commission –District Public Safety and Police Complaints Commission

Police Order 2002 (II) Mechanisms aimed at Insulating Police Service against Political Interference Separation of Investigation from Watch & Ward Role of District Govt. vis-à-vis Police: –Watch and ward/ law and order –Distt. Nazim writes a part of the ‘performance evaluation’ report of Distt. Police Officer –Distt. Council elects one-third members for District Public Safety and Police Complaints Commission –Oversight by Union Public Safety Committees Annual Policing Plan

Implementation Challenges (I) Public Safety Commissions not Functional or Effective –Delayed establishment –Non-cooperative police officers –Limited capacity –Limited public trust Separation of Investigation from Watch & Ward –Resistance by Distt. Police Officers –Rivalry –Under-resourced investigation branch –People have to deal with more officers

Implementation Challenges (II) Political Interference/ Autonomy –CM’s interference in appointments/ transfers –No security of tenure –Weak performance evaluation systems/ annual policing plans

Causes of Weak/ Slow Implementation Lack of Ownership by Provincial Governments –Demanded amendments on some aspects –Chose not to implement others Inter-departmental Differences or Weak Cooperation –(involving police, district management group, local govts., judiciary) Lack of transparency/ culture of secrecy Weak Civil Society Oversight and Engagement Weak Parliamentary Oversight

Way Forward Ownership by political parties / provincial governments Capacity Building of Members of Public Safety Commissions Oversight by Parliamentary Committees Stronger Civil Society Engagement Transparency/ Public Information System