police powers
ABUSE OF POLICE POWERS IN PAKISTAN
With intervening dictators and historical autocracy, it is now after sixty five years of independence that Pakistan has evolved to a culture “partially” democratic. The military and police institutions must function under rule of law in order to uphold legitimate separation of powers.
The Oxford Dictionary defines the term Police as, “the civil force of a state, responsible for the prevention and detection of crime and the maintenance of public order.”1 With its roots from the Greek word “polis” it was first used in Scotland in the Eighteenth century.
POLICE REFORMS IN PAKISTAN
After 1857, the British Empire conquered the Indian Sub-Continent and promulgated the Police Act 1861 after the recommendations given by the Police Commission brought up in 1860. However, later many loopholes were identified in the enacted law. The primary concern of the critics related to the autonomy of the organization because of paramount political interference.2
Soon after independence in 1947, rigorous efforts were made to reform the Police Force. Although innumerable committees and commissions were appointed, any concrete measure on the part of the government to change the law remained obscure and vague
The need of a competent organization which operated neutrally and was free of any political pressures led the government to set up the “Focal Group on Police Reforms” in 1999 which came up with its recommendations in February 2000.3 These recommendations were given effect by the promulgation of the Police Order 2002 which repealed and replaced the Police Act 1861, envisaged to make the Police professionally proficient, publicly accountable, operationally independent and neutral, and organizationally unified.
The paramount objective of the Police Order 2002 was the reconstruction and regulation of the Police Forces operating within Pakistan. The primary objectives prevalent in the Order included, inter-alia, accountability;
With intervening dictators and historical autocracy, it is now after sixty five years of independence that Pakistan has evolved to a culture “partially” democratic. The military and police institutions must function under rule of law in order to uphold legitimate separation of powers.
The Oxford Dictionary defines the term Police as, “the civil force of a state, responsible for the prevention and detection of crime and the maintenance of public order.”1 With its roots from the Greek word “polis” it was first used in Scotland in the Eighteenth century.
POLICE REFORMS IN PAKISTAN
After 1857, the British Empire conquered the Indian Sub-Continent and promulgated the Police Act 1861 after the recommendations given by the Police Commission brought up in 1860. However, later many loopholes were identified in the enacted law. The primary concern of the critics related to the autonomy of the organization because of paramount political interference.2
Soon after independence in 1947, rigorous efforts were made to reform the Police Force. Although innumerable committees and commissions were appointed, any concrete measure on the part of the government to change the law remained obscure and vague
The need of a competent organization which operated neutrally and was free of any political pressures led the government to set up the “Focal Group on Police Reforms” in 1999 which came up with its recommendations in February 2000.3 These recommendations were given effect by the promulgation of the Police Order 2002 which repealed and replaced the Police Act 1861, envisaged to make the Police professionally proficient, publicly accountable, operationally independent and neutral, and organizationally unified.
The paramount objective of the Police Order 2002 was the reconstruction and regulation of the Police Forces operating within Pakistan. The primary objectives prevalent in the Order included, inter-alia, accountability;