It’s not incompetence, it’s not lack of resources, it’s not capability, it’s by design that none of the successive governments have reformed or built capacities of law and order institutions. May it be Police, prosecution, or Judicial system. It is deliberate and in the interest of political parties and vested groups if all these institutions remain crippled and feeble. The more ineffective these institutions become, the more discretionary power higher-ups command and the ruling elite enjoy all the privileges and powers.
The weak and meager Police allow the ruling elite to mold the law in any direction as they want. Imagine it has been more than thirty years since when Rangers were called in Karachi and during the last three decades no reform or special initiative or budget was allocated to build or train the professional Police. It appears it’s not in anyone’s interest to have a law and order in society. The weak police, prosecution and judiciary provide an opportunity for some to usurp land, for some to hold hydrants, for some to murder and rape and for some to grab mosques and place their own sect Imams.
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The poor law and order do not serve the poor or middle class
There emerged a state within a state and the establishment also became a party to it and they were willing to sacrifice ordinary lives for their personal gains. The design of poor law and order is such which benefits 5 % of cliques while the remaining population has been categorized as ignorant slaves. There were some pieces of evidence when power was to be devolved but the ruling elite along with politicians undo it quickly to ensure the colonial system prevails. The local government’s devolution plans were replaced by the bureaucratic status quo.
This frail and halting law and order system is now being regularly exploited by various groups such as (lawyers, doctors), cartels, or religious bandits to show street power and enforce the state to succumb to their demands. The state regularly becomes hostage to these mischievous elements and make fool of itself in the world. The red-faced state remains embarrassed for some time being, but the interests of the vested groups are so tempting that everyone put a blind eye towards the long-term solutions.
This deliberate design of having a weak judicial and penal system suits the cartels, rich and arrogant politicians as well as the establishment to carry on with the petty benefits without considering the long-term effects of their actions. Having no focus on judicial reform, the state is not only economically crippled but overall population thinking is degenerating and regressive. The paralysis in thinking of the ruling elite has caused an atmosphere whereby the youth of this massive country has no belief in getting a kind of justice from the prevailing system. They have given up hope and the only way to lead their lives is either to immigrate to some civilized country or join the bandit groups.
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Joining the bandits becoming a survival matter in this lawless jungle
This situation will go on till the time lawmakers and the so-called establishment decide to put the proper policing and judicial system in place. This can be done if the proper allocation of resources and reformation is put into place. The realization that protection of public safety and property is the foremost duty of the state and it must be ensured at any cost. The strong Police and judicial system will not only ensure equal rights but also pave the way for economic growth.
The sturdy and robust judicial and penal system will pave the way for a solid foundation of the state which will ensure that not only necessities are provided to all, but equal opportunities are provided to youth. It is extremely important that the common man must have faith in law of the land and they must see justice be victorious.
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We have probably taken freedom from our colonial masters, but will we ever take freedom from this ruling elite? Will we ever dissent against the political dictators and will we ever stand up to a self-serving establishment? If not, more and more groups will be on the roads to mock the feeble and fragile state!
Moied Javeed is a senior telecom executive in Pakistan and can be reached at mj@tptglobal.net. The views expressed in the article are the author’s own and do not necessarily reflect the editorial policy of Global Village Space.