KARACHI – Despite the increasing crime rate in Karachi, the city police are not lodging first information reports (FIRs) and people affected by street crimes are also reluctant to register cases due to the indifferent behaviour of the law enforcers.
According to analysts, the major impediment to the registration of cases is the prevalence of the ‘thana culture’ at most police stations in the city as no police chief has been able to eradicate it.
Even the Police Order 2002, which aimed at reforming the police department, has failed to bring about positive changes in the attitudes of the police officers, who have failed to develop a citizen-friendly image over the years.
At a time when the e-policing project is in its implementation phase, staffers at some police stations still use the excuse of non-availability of stationery for not registering the FIRs.
Under these circumstances, people generally avoid going to the police stations for lodging the FIRs, even for mobile phone snatching or similar street crimes.
A visit to several prominent police stations suggested that cases are not lodged until the SHO gives a green signal.
In some cases, even the SHO asks his superior, the town SP, before deciding whether to register the case or not.
While talking to Pakistan Today, Adviser to Home Minister Sharfuddin Memon said that more Citizens-Police Liaison Committee (CPLC) -like bodies should be constituted for sharing the burden of police and facilitating citizens.
Memon was associated with the CPLC for 19 years, including seven years as its chief.
He is assisting the home minister in controlling law and order, improving the image of the police, implementation of police reforms, community policing, and the e-policing project, etc.
