Khyber Pakhtunkhwa (KP), formerly North-West Frontier Province, northernmost province of Pakistan, is presently abuzz with the debate as to whether the police in the province is poised to become a model law enforcement agency under Nasir Khan Durrani, the inspector general? IGP Durrani claims that the KP police is totally free of political influence and is undergoing a radical transformation that is required to battle the non-traditional security challenges such as ideologically-driven militancy, political terrorism and the increasing nexus of militants and criminal syndicates. This collusion of crime and terrorism has claimed lives of 1,015 police officials and wounded some 2,000 in attacks throughout KP since 2006[1].
The string of major attacks including the ones on the Peshawar airport on December 12’ 2012, the April 2nd Electricity Grid Station on the outskirts of the city in 2013, or the firing on the PIA passenger aircraft on June 24’ 2014 represent the security threats to the greater Peshawar region on the one hand. Abductions for ransom and extortions as well as surreptitious illegal activities by the organized crime syndicates in unison with religious militants is another ever looming threat.
Official statistics provided by the KP IGP office suggest an over 18 percent decrease in casualties of general population and police personnel between July 2013 and June 2014. During the said period the KP police managed to repulse 77 terrorist attacks, arrested 260 terrorists. It was also able to work out 626 cases of terrorism in the past year and arrest 70 kidnappers of which 43 were convicted by the courts. More importantly, the KP police also resolved 78 cases of extortion and secured convictions for 109 terrorists from Anti-Terrorism Courts.[2]
Does this make the police chief happier? Not really, quips Durrani. Look at the enormity of the challenges that surround the KP police, a province bordered by Afghanistan to the west and north, Azad Kashmir and the Northern Areas (the Pakistani-administered areas of the Kashmir region) to the east and northeast, Punjab province to the southeast, and Balochistān province to the southwest. The adjacent territories such as FATA (Federally Administered Tribal Areas) and PATA (Provincially Administered Tribal Areas) stand out as the biggest hurdles in anti-crime and terror operations. They serve as refuge and havens for fugitives from law. He, however, is not despondent at all. Durrani believes that despite the tardy and expensive criminal justice system, several administrative steps such as intelligence led search & strike operations, surprise snap checkings, vehicle verification system, raising of K-9 unit, employment of android based geo tagging for identification of crime hot spots as well as I.T based capacity building of the personnel will hopefully improve the collective efficiency of the police that is 65,000 in total, backed up by an Investigating Wing (3000 officers) responsible for criminal investigation management, Forensic Science Laboratory (FSL), an Elite Force (6000 men) for high risk security operations and counter terrorism, Frontier Reserved Police (10,000)[3].
With the formation of the Special Anti-Terrorism Force and Special Prisons Force in October 2013, another two Police Forces have been introduced in KP, where a number of uniformed forces, including the Army, the Federal Investigation Agency (FIA), the Anti-Narcotics Force, and the Excise Police Force, already operate.
In terms of convictions in the province, from July 2013 to June 2014, the K-P police were able to successfully repulse 77 terrorist attacks and arrest 260 terrorists. Furthermore, 77 terrorists were killed in police encounters. In the 12-month period, the provincial police solved 78 cases of extortion in which 145 extortionists were arrested. Similarly, the police were also able to secure convictions for 109 terrorists.[4]
While the police death toll this year might be lower, more of them were killed in targeted attacks. Targeted attacks on individuals, including cops, went up from 99 to 129, nearly 30.3% more[5].
“As the security in Peshawar increased in the province, the police became more vulnerable to terrorists,” said Nasir Durrani in an interview.
Durrani was also candid in admitting that lack of coordination among various security institutions, particularly between the civilian and the military outfits, multiplicity of laws (Criminal Procedure Code (CrPC), Frontier Crimes Regulation (FCR) etc) no access to live data and call facility were some of the major factors undermining timely operations against terrorists and criminal mafias.
He pointed out that despite the introduction of online FIR registration in the KP province, complaint management remains a big issue because of limited internet availability. Complainants, however, have been given access to official cell numbers to lodge complaints through cell phones.
Durrani explained the informal style of governance as the socio-cultural barrier in the way of effective law enforcement. Compassion and consideration for near and dear ones severely undermines merit and transparency.
Despite several socio-political handicaps and capacity issues, the KP police still has managed to brave adverse circumstances while staying the course of reforms.
The KP police now maintains a Police Assistance Line to deal with issues such as character certificate verifications.
Under ‘the Khyber Pakhtunkhwa Restriction of Rented Buildings Ordinance 2014’, one of the three legislations pushed by the police, all landlords and hostel owners must provide complete details of their tenants to the. As a result, 75,000 tenants already registered with the police.[6]
The KP police is now also connected with the excise department to keep track of all vehicles for vehicle verifications.
Criminal records of last year have been digitalized and those of last five also being digitalized to be available with police officers via phone.
For security across the province, the police have identified 15 villages in critical areas and have geo-tagged. All homes and all male members above 14 are also being documented. All these villagers are asked to seek permission for all sorts of new construction.
Similarly, under the Khyber Pakhtunkhwa Hotel Restriction (Security) Ordinance 2014’ hotel owners to register themselves with police, verify the CNICs of the guests through Nadra’s Verisys system, maintain their record/ credentials and update the police on daily basis.[7]
According to ‘The Khyber Pakhtunkhwa Sensitive and Vulnerable Establishment and Places (Security) Ordinance 2014 all profit-making and government institutions are asked to ensure, on their own expense, proper security arrangements for their premises.
Non-compliance in all these issues is a cognizable offence.
Capacity deficits are also being addressed through an accelerated programme which includes establishment of an Establishment of School of Investigation at Hayatabad, a School of Intelligence at Abbottabad and new training centers to cope with the annual demand of at least 2000 new recruits in the province.
Interestingly, as a “first” to minimize patronage and interference in recruitment of constables, the KP police outsourced the process to the National Testing Service (NTS).
“A positive change in the police force and thana culture can only be brought by those officials who are recruited through a transparent and merit-based process,” said Nasir Durani. He insisted that “there is zero political influence and I enjoy operational autonomy to the extent that I nominate even additional IGs.” He said nobody bothered him after over 450 officials and personnel were dismissed on disciplinary charges.
Durrani, too, is big advocate for reforms in the CrPC. It has not only failed but is a big handicap for police operations too.
“If I don’t pay my servant, what options does he have? Police can register his complaint and tell him to a civil law court through a lawyer. Common man cannot afford this at all and that is why aggrieved poor people often went to Taliban courts,” he underlined.
That is why the police have been able to push Dispute Resolution Councils (DRC), comprising 21 members each for every district. A three-member bench nominated by these DRC comprising civil society members, and retired generals, police officials, professors, bureaucrats and judges will sit in their respective police station, in a designated court room to facilitate alternate dispute resolution.
The KP police also suggests a task force comprising other civilian law agencies and services sector for effective coordination and timely crackdown on criminals and terrorists. The new challenges and the unprecedented quantum of work requires us to be more hands-on, agile and closely coordinating among ourselves, he said.
KP IGP Durrani has also requested the federal government to allow recruitment of up to 4000 from FATA, he told in the interview with CRSS.
“This way we can win hearts and minds of people from the embattled and neglected region. Secondly, these recruits can provide the strategic access into the community that the police and other law-enforcing agencies need to penetrate and break non-state actors,” he said.
The big question remains as to whether Durrani’s commitment, better technical and human capacity, more resources, and political non-interference do help in retooling the KP police, and for how long the ruling elites can swallow an autonomous police?
Contributed by Senior Journalist and CRSS Senior Research Fellow Imtiaz Gul
[1] “Khyber Pakhtunkhwa armours police vehicles,” Central Asia Online, June 21, 2014, http://centralasiaonline.com/en_GB/articles/caii/features/pakistan/main/2014/07/21/feature-01
[2] “Police restructuring,” Dawn, July 20, 2014, http://epaper.dawn.com/DetailImage.php?StoryImage=20_07_2014_009_001
[3] KP Police official website http://kppolice.gov.pk/
[4] Interview with IGP Nasir Khan Durrani on July 24’ 2014
[5] “Baby steps: Law and order on the mend in K-P, says police report,” Express Tribune, July 4’ 2014 http://tribune.com.pk/story/730874/baby-steps-law-and-order-on-the-mend-in-k-p-says-police-report/
[6] CRSS interview with KP IGP Nasir Khan Durani
[7] KP police official website http://kppolice.gov.pk/