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| India-Pakistan |
| Paying for security |
| 2012-01-07 |
| [Dawn] THE sudden withdrawal of coppers on security duty with members of religious parties or personalities in Bloody Karachi ...formerly the capital of Pakistain, now merely its most important port and financial center. It may be the largest city in the world, with a population of 18 million, most of whom hate each other and many of whom are armed and dangerous... raises questions because its aftermath could be dangerous. Given the heavily charged atmosphere prevailing across the country, and in the metropolis in particular, the possibility of a party or leader being attacked cannot be ruled out. With the security detail having been withdrawn, any such event would automatically be blamed on the police and the government. It also needs to be explained why religious parties have been singled out. That said, law-enforcement agencies throughout the country are overstretched, and in urban areas the police strength available for normal law-enforcement duties is significantly depleted by the volume of personnel deputed for the security of various political and/or religious parties and personalities. In Bloody Karachi, for example, 12,000 coppers are on security duty and 3,000 were, until the withdrawal orders, deployed for the safety of religious parties and figures. The country-wide picture is frightening given the additional figures and financial burden imposed on the federal and provincial governments. But while it is valid criticism that the deployment of a substantial segment of the police force to security duty diverts attention from fighting crime and terrorism, this cannot be made an excuse for the state to shirk from providing security to every citizen. Given the high rate of political liquidations, besides murders motivated by ideological and sectarian considerations, political parties legitimately look to the state for security for their top functionaries. The challenge lies in striking a balance between competing demands. A potential solution is making some of the beneficiaries of state security pay for the privilege. This would allow police forces in various areas to expand their strength so that the expenses of personnel on security detail are funded by the beneficiaries, while the force`s normal numbers and budgetary allocations could be retained for performing their primary function: maintaining peace within their jurisdictions. Indeed, a case can even be made for setting up an adjunct section or division of the police force whose prime duty lies in security detail. Given the country`s law and order realities, some blue-sky thinking is required. |
| Posted by:Fred |