OF late I had been trying to contact the district police officer, Vehari, my batch mate — fellow commoner of 31st CTP — to confide to him some important information in the best interest of victims of a brutal murder case in the vicinity of the police station, Sahuka, Vehari.However, to my utmost exasperation, I failed to talk to him, but only once, in some 50 plus attempts.
Each time the operator would pick up my call, the response was: ‘Sahib masroof ha’ (boss is busy). To further add to my frustrations, my fellow commoner even did not bother to ring me back. This flippant attitude of a senior police officer raises an intriguing question: If police officers/officials could not be accessible to their fellow batch mates, how would common people, mostly victims of crimes, approach them for redressal of their grievances? And isn’t it the opportune occasion to rethink Police Act, 1861, investing police with draconian powers?

ATHER NAVEED Deputy Director (31st CTP, Customs
) Directorate of Intelligence & Investigation, FBR Peshawar


source : letters to editor (dawn) 25/9/11