By Saleem Mubarak
The Chief Minister Punjab, Maryam Nawaz has come down hard on the footage of a police officer torturing an elderly man identified as Ghulam Akbar in Multan.
Following her directive, ‘strict action’ will be taken against the accused policeman. However, it’s an open secret that police high-handedness runs rampant in different parts of Punjab.
Credit must go to the cameraman who recorded the disturbing footage of torture, forcing the CM to move against the accused official. If this footage didn’t exist, no action would have been taken against this police officer.
Persistent Issue of Police Brutality in Punjab
Time and again, the police have been caught red-handed subjecting citizens to severe torture, but due to a lack of evidence, the responsible officers slip through the cracks and remain part of the force.
Public Outrage Over the Multan Torture Case
The torture case of police brutality in Multan caught public attention, urging the people at the helm of affairs to bridle the trend of police torture and make the police public-friendly.
Talking to GL News, people have appreciated Maryam Nawaz’s quick response, stating that such measures will help rein in police high-handedness. However, they pointed out that one case alone will not solve the problem overnight, as police high-handedness is a decades-old issue.
Accountability and the Need for Stronger Enforcement
The accused police officers must be held accountable for their actions; they should not remain part of the force. They said that although strong laws exist in the country, these laws are just words on paper if the government cannot enforce them in their true spirit.
Will This Action Bring Real Change?
They asked, “Will this action bring real change in the police department?” They pointed out that most people generally perceive the Punjab police as anything but a trusted friend. The fear of their strong-arm tactics keeps people at a distance, they added.
They said a number of times reports hit the headlines about wrongful arrests, illegal detentions, and police brutality. We have no qualms about saying that scores of officers act as if they are a law unto themselves, believing no one has the guts to challenge them.
The Multan Incident: A Case of Excessive Force
In the case of Multan, they said the victim was minding his own business and was not causing any disruption to traffic. However, the officer, feeling above the law, grabbed him by the shirt and yanked him off the bike without a second thought. They pointed out that not only did this officer act in such a ruthless manner, but his partner in crime was also caught on camera slapping the elderly man– an act that is utterly unforgivable.
Social Media: A Double-Edged Sword
They said that the credit of exposing police high-handedness goes to social media, making it harder for officers to sweep misconduct under the rug. Any sort of high-handedness by anyone can go viral on social media quickly; however, this facility must be used wisely.
Across the globe, governments often act only when public outrage reaches a boiling point. However, in the case of the Multan torture footage, the CM and police high-ups wasted no time in taking action.
They remarked that the image of the Punjab police is already tarnished. Whenever policemen abuse their power, it erodes public trust in the justice system. To ensure a crime-free society, they said that people must feel confident they will receive fair treatment.
The Need for a Friendly Police Force
Unchecked anger and frustration among the masses will deal a severe blow to public trust in the departments. Following the country’s challenges, they stressed the need to avoid such issues. They said due to widespread distrust, many victims hesitate to report crimes, fearing they will fall prey to police exploitation.
They said that the people of Punjab need a friendly police force that protects them rather than one that exploits their rights and mistreats them with impunity. The Chief Minister of Punjab can truly transform the police force when officers with a bad reputation are shown the door. Merely suspending them is not a long-term fix to tackle the menace of police high-handedness, they added.
