"What happens when those responsible for law and order actually break the law themselves?"
"Nothing in this country or so I have witnessed!"
"But we are all agreed that something should happen."
"Of course, we are. But I have my doubts if it will, any time soon. We have so many rape cases where the police plays' a rather obstructive role at best."
"And at worst?"
"They actually rape the victim again in the police Thana when she and her family come to register an FIR."
"Yes that also has been known to happen."
"Our laws as they pertain to women, courtesy the last military President, are rotten to the core - I can't understand why President Musharraf does not repeal the Hudood Ordinance despite all his repeated claims of being a liberal, I mean considering he has gotten rid of everything else in the Constitution that he didn't like. Women need to be given a fighting chance to get their rapists punished?"
"That is the politics of a military President, my friend. Going back to the police, you know in some cases the police has a rather strange way of interpreting its duties."
"What do you mean?"
"Well, in Larkana they allegedly stormed a village, ransacked houses and actually killed an old man."
"When did this happen?"
"Two months ago."
"They may have been looking for terrorists, and having found one killed him."
"Even if that were true this would qualify as extra-judicial killings - that's not really nice if you know what I mean."
"No, actually I don't know what you mean."
"That is reminiscent of Iraq, and Palestine and Afghanistan."
"Ah yes, I see."
"Anyway a tribal assembly, or Jirga, decided this Sunday to impose a fine of Rs 16,75,000 on 16 of the cops that I mentioned above - including a Taluka police officer (TPO) and two station house officers (SHOs)."
"And so the death of that poor man goes unpunished?"
"Well, we believe in monetary compensation for death. However, calm down! This case is a good example of people not merely taking the abuse heaped on them by public servants who are paid out of our tax money. They filed a constitutional petition in the Sindh High Court, Larkana Bench. The court ordered registration of a murder case against 16 policemen, including the TPO and two SHOs. However, no arrests had been made yet though I have told you the Jirga's decision."
"One step at a time, I say. Have the police agreed to pay."
"Apparently, hence they have accepted the crime."
"That is a start."