Wide consensus, through surveys points to the police as being one of the most corrupt institutions in Pakistan. Corruption in the police and law enforcement is perceived to be pervasive - creating a culture of lawlessness and lack of credibility and trust in authorities.
The police and law enforcement appointments are often politicised and full of conflict of interests. Criminals and rent-seeking and extortionist authorities are often the sole beneficiaries of the game. Unlawful police methods do not solely affect the poor people. Businesses also complain that they suffer from extortion by the police, for instance in the form of bogus traffic fines.
Police reforms were instituted in the era of President Musharraf but according to certain expert voices, they have been significantly watered down by several authorities. However, a system of recruitment of better quality and standards is being implemented with improvements in areas of professional training, competence development and remuneration. A great deal remains to be done to implement full police reforms, including the establishment of public safety commissions and an effective independent police complaints authority.
Back in 1947, the father of Pakistani nation, Muhammad Ali Jinnah set the agenda by stating, that "first duty of a government is to maintain law and order so that the life, property and religious beliefs of its subjects are fully protected by the state." Over the last sixty-two years, and with every passing day, this is one thing that the government in Pakistan and its institutions especially the police departments have singularly failed to deliver. Moreover, the country is administratively structured in such a way that there are 100 times more junior-level civil servants than senior officers, creating a group ready to engage in the petty abuses currently plaguing Pakistan.
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