Pakistan: 'A police guide to self-embarrassment'

Pakistan Today

Here’s a script that only Punjab’s government, and its bullies, could have done justice. First a late night meeting where Punjab’s law minister demands that Pakistan Awami Tehreek (PAT) upstarts be taught a lesson. The commissioner protests, but is snubbed. The ‘lesson’, it seems, was forcibly removing court sanctioned security barricades from outside the Minhaj ul Quran secretariat, that too in the middle of the night. Then, when shown the court order allowing the security, the police (DIG, no less) lied about a court order to remove them.

Then the police tear gassed, baton-charged, and directly shot at protestors. More than 12 people got killed. Then they paraded their goon, Gullu Butt, practically in front of the camera, smashing cars, etc, as the police looked on. Then the Model Town SP hugged and patted Gullu for his good work, all in front of the camera. But then the media exposed much of their brutality, and their lies. So they tried to fudge records at the hospital. Then they got caught again, and fled the scene.

They bungled again, when forced to arrest the goon and present him before the magistrate. Trying to play smart, they tried to rush Butt through proceedings, face hidden and with only two policemen. But the public caught on, and gave the villain a good thrashing. And as this tragic-comedy rolls on, surely the police will do more to embarrass their institution even further.

But somewhere in this farcical investigation very serious blame will need to be laid at someone’s door. Lives were lost. Men and women died. And the usually hands on chief minister, so ready to suspend senior and junior staff alike for the slightest slackness, will not be able to talk by this episode with just a long face and some sad words. And not the easiest of his questions will be just where and from whom the order to open direct fire came from. That is not to say, of course, that events before and after the shooting were any less significant in terms of violation of the law at the hands of its upholders.

Police officials, too, can no longer be allowed to walk away from practical murder just with light suspensions. Soon they will make calls, get the official corrupt machinery in motion, and find themselves out in the field (with all its advantages), the deaths and the disgrace being a distant matter. But this time, thanks largely to the media that has exposed police brutality yet again, the people will not allow the powerful to simply walk away from such grave excesses. The CM is in the spotlight. He had better deliver, and ensure justice is done, or be prepared for a worse public backlash.