Mr. Sohail Habib Tajik
Inspector General Police
Muzaffarabad
Dear Mr. Tajik,
Assalamo Alaikum
I am writing about badly needed Police Reforms in Azad Jammu Kashmir. I know you are trying to improve the system and you have a remarkable team of DIGs and some SPs who I think can help improve the system with the cooperation of civil society and required resources, but as a citizen with natural interest in the improvement of society, I would like to share my thoughts as well.
Realistically, no society and system is perfect but ours lack the basic qualities and ingredients. My claim is based on my qualitative data obtained through my years long interactions with all National Institutions. We may have not improved them but we have at least created awareness.
The most disturbing fact is that system is generally run by the will and whims of officials at the desks and manipulative politicians , instead of rule of law. There are certainly some good officials as well but as soon as they are replaced, rules may go out of the window. It happens due to a weak professional hierarchy, where duty officers are more responsive to politicians than their superior. For instance, to my amazement, one SHO once described an unemployed son of a minister as his boss. I had to tell the SHO that his boss was his SP.
It is also a common practice not to investigate any complaint unless the complainant struggles persistently. Even if the complaints are investigated, the majority of them are done at the expense of victims.
I know Police Superintendents and SHOs don’t have sufficient budget but I also know that it depends how well the budget is managed and prioritized. Some officers even improve the system with the same amount of budget. One example is that of SP Irfan Saleem, who computerised the system when he was in Kotli. It speeded up link between SP office and Police stations and people no longer needed to travel back and forward to get their documents attested.
In view of my observations, I suggest the following:
1. Police training, resources and equipment should be improved.
2. Citizen-centred attitude of the staff.
3. Promoting procedure and discouraging jirga or political involvement in police stations.
4. Increasing the Financial Power of SPs and SHOs to stop the financial burden of investigation on victims, bribes in other words.
5. Protection of a professional police officer who refuses to give in to manipulative politicians.
6. Developing a system of job satisfaction.
7. Cybercrime is a new phenomena. A specific legal framework, training and resources are required in the fast changing world.
Wassalam
Quayyum Raja
Humanitarian Reformer
Burhan House
Khajorullah
Khuiratta
13. 10. 2021
CC:
All DIGs
All SPs
Quayyum Raja's full official name is Abdul Quayyum Raja, but the British press shortened his name when he was arrested in connection with an Indian diplomat kidnapped by his fellow KASHMIRIS in Birmingham in 1984 to save the life of a Kashmiri Hero Muhammad Maqbool Butt hanged by India and buried inside Tihar jail on 11 February 1984. Quayyum Raja is from Azad Jammu Kashmir administered by Pakistan. He acquired various qualifications from EU and UK, including a Master in Psychology & Social Sciences, Journalism and Modern World History. He supports both Pan Islam and Pluralism, which may sound a contradiction, but he claims he can draw a balance. Quayyum Raja spent about 22 years in British jail extra-juducially as a Kashmiri political prisoner. He was released by the European Court of Human Rights on 17 May 2005. He has travelled extensively both before his captivity and after his release.
