Trigger-happy police
ARE the citizens of Karachi becoming fair game again? There were some grisly signs of a rapid return to living dangerously for its people this week: six offenders were shot dead in four ‘encounters’, a young boy took a fatal bullet from the police in a separate incident, and robbers rampaged through parts of Shah Faisal Colony, killing a middle-aged man. On Thursday, the City Council reverberated with worry about the worsening law and order situation in the metropolis, and a proposal to constitute a committee to tackle the mounting street crime was approved by the mayor. Karachi’s turbulent history, riddled with ‘encounter specialists’ — no less than murderers in uniform — and criminals of all stripes should tell us that a rise in violence is symptomatic of a city’s descent into sociopolitical decay.
The police simply cannot be trigger-happy, regardless of how broken our criminal justice system and economy are. They have to own the principle of lawfulness to save their own legitimacy in the eyes of citizens. It is true that the force is demoralised by dismal conviction rates and a labyrinthine legal system that acquits hardened offenders. Moreover, the absence of knowledge and resources, such as forensic and medico-legal procedures, impede investigations and often render the process inconclusive. It does not help that political patronage of criminals and rogue police officers leads to ‘bought’ verdicts and intimidated judges. On one end, criminals are either desperate, victimised or habitual, and on the other, the ground realities narrated by the overburdened and poor security corps must be heeded to script effective and sensitive rules of engagement. When the catalyst is not economic distress, violence is often a learned behaviour. Therefore, reforms within the police department, accountability mechanisms and application of laws in letter and spirit will help Karachi turn the corner. The moral contract between citizenry and state legitimises punishment in return for guaranteed life and liberty.
Published in Dawn, February 24th, 2024
The plot thickens
THE recent explosive allegations by Liaquat Ali Chattha, the former commissioner of Rawalpindi, have thrust the nation into a state of heightened scepticism with regard to the already disputed general elections.
Mr Chattha’s initial public ‘confession’ claiming involvement in poll rigging and implicating — without proof — the chief election commissioner and chief justice of Pakistan sent shockwaves across the country. A seemingly contrite Mr Chattha had claimed in remarks to reporters that candidates that were “losing” the elections “were made to win”.
However, the plot has since thickened with the emergence of a letter addressed to the ECP, supposedly sent by Mr Chattha, in which he recants his allegations. The former official, who was approaching retirement, says he was enticed by an unnamed absconding PTI leader into levelling the allegations after he was promised a “lucrative position” if he aided the PTI’s narrative that the polls were rigged.
This turn of events raises more questions than it answers, leaving the public in a bog of doubt. The ambiguity of this letter’s origin, coupled with Mr Chattha’s disappearance since his initial accusation, has only intensified the mystery.
Given the gravity of the accusations, both initial and recanted, it is imperative that an investigation be launched immediately. If his initial confession was fabricated, as his letter purports, it is essential the characters behind such manipulation be uncovered and punished.
Conversely, if his rigging allegations hold any shred of truth, it is equally crucial that those claims be probed. Commissioners, by virtue of their role, wield significant administrative influence. Such power can easily be misused. It is, therefore, paramount that not only Mr Chattha’s claims but also his tenure in office are scrutinised, especially given the corruption charges against him.
The Punjab government has initiated a probe into the development schemes the ex-commissioner approved, which is a start. However, it must be ensured this probe is not simply punitive in nature. It is now up to the authorities to see the entire matter through with a swift and transparent investigation. This is crucial to uphold the integrity of the electoral process and restore public confidence in the state’s institutions. Anything short of this would not only serve as a betrayal of the public’s trust but also jeopardise Pakistan’s democratic foundations.
Published in Dawn, February 24th, 2024
Course correction
THE PTI emerged from the Feb 8 elections as Pakistan’s largest political party. It should start acting like one.
The party founder’s decision to write to the IMF and urge it to call for an independent audit of the election results before it considers extending more loans was unbecoming and should have been reconsidered. There was no need for the PTI to engage in such tactics to demonstrate its seriousness about recovering its allegedly stolen mandate.
Even with its present numbers, it has more than enough leverage in three different assemblies to keep the pressure on the state without ever needing to involve an external stakeholder.
It must realise that any effort to ‘recover’ its mandate will entail a long legal struggle, during which the party and its supporters will periodically find themselves short on patience. However, resorting to extreme measures will only weaken their cause and could set them back in their efforts.
There is no denying that Pakistan’s present political landscape is much messier now than before, thanks to the ECP’s failure to hold a fair election and ensure transparency in its results. But this does not mean that those who feel they have been wronged should start engaging in acts of political arson to make their dissatisfaction known.
There are many legitimate means to protest, both within and outside parliament. There are also many different forums available through which the election results can and should be challenged. All of these can be resorted to as the PTI continues its fight for what it considers to be its right. If it goes overboard instead, the party risks repeating the mistakes it made in May last year, which only ended up giving room for the state to exercise its oppressive tendencies. There is prudence in acting with restraint.
The country cannot afford a re-run of the past two years. As a major representative of the Pakistani electorate, the PTI has an important role to play. The political configuration today is considerably different than what it was during the PDM regime.
Now that it has returned to parliament, the PTI will get to weigh in on any new deals the incoming government will strike with international lending agencies. If it plays the role of opposition right, the party will be able to pressure the government to make decisions that are in everybody’s best interests. It should not abandon that power and responsibility while expecting an external stakeholder to set things right.
Let the IMF make its own assessments and reach its own conclusions; it has enough experience dealing with the country in any case. The PTI’s job should be to focus on protecting its constituencies’ interests with whatever power it has been able to seize.
Published in Dawn, February 24th, 2024