Punjab Police up in arms over new uniforms

‘We have lost the respect and fear of the public’

A survey of Punjab Police officers called for by the inspector general of police (IGP) Punjab has made the previously secretive criticism of the new Punjab Police uniform by the police themselves much more public, as officers come out to register their reservations.

According to details available with Pakistan Today, forms were distributed among the provincial force’s servicemen, under the order of IGP Arif Nawaz. It has been learnt that a vast number of police officers are largely dissatisfied with the uniform and expressed their dislike for the colour, texture, material and overall impact it had.

Senior Police officials told Pakistan Today that the review had come to being after a number of complaints were filed. This was despite the fact that the provincial government had spent millions of rupees on the project and had supposedly consulted a number of fashion designers and followed the latest international policing outfits.

“Being a large organisation, various opinions have emerged regarding various facets of the new uniform. And the Punjab Police will always accomadate the majority opinion on such matters” they added in a notification.

The current olive green uniforms had been issued back in March 2017. The plans to roll back the uniform are already under way even though they have still not been issued to all the men and women of the police force.

However, the survey has managed to bring the complaints out in the open rather as police personnel continue their hue and cry.

When the uniform was first launched, a number of citizens had criticised it saying that its colour was not suited to the climate. And while this was a common complaint amongst the policeman as well, one earlier criticism that they have seemingly seen to take to heart is that the uniform resembles that of postmen.

Many of the police officers, especially those in the Model Town and Defence circles, complained that people made fun of their new attire and that the history and prestige of the black-khaki combo has been lost.

One on duty ASI said that the new uniform did not command the same respect and fear from the citizens as the old one, arguing that these qualities of the old uniforms made policing much easier.

“I went back to my village on holiday and wore my new uniform there hoping to impress everybody. But they all said I do not look like a policeman and some even spread rumours that I was lying about being in the police” said one relatively new recruit speaking to Pakistan Today.

It is worth noting that many in less central locations than Lahore are not very familiar with the new uniform and it clearly does not have the same aesthetic appeal according to the vast majority of public opinion.

It is also interesting that policemen are, now that the matter is out in the open, giving the same arguments that civilians had given back in March showing that it is not any form of misrepresentation on the public’s behalf.

Many expressed that not only did the uniforms make them look less intimidating and authoritative, qualities necessary for managing both emergencies and sensitive situations, they also added that the higher ups of the police and the government would be better off providing better facilities and promoting a more positive police culture rather than new uniforms.