THE withdrawal of the United States from Afghanistan in 2021 affected the security situation across Pakistan in various ways. Besides, there have also been some internal flaws within the system that made it easy for the terrorists to unleash violence, especially in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa (KP) and Balochistan.

More than a thousand police personnel have lost their lives in KP alone. And yet, little attention has been paid to the problems that are being faced by KP police. Owing to such issues, the trust level of policemen in the system and higher authorities has been for long at its lowest.

The list of such problems is long. There is a lack of equipment necessary for the safety of the police personnel, like bulletproof jackets, helmets, modern weapons, etc. Besides, there is no training with respect to professional tactics necessary for such a fight. Likewise, there are no incentives, which is rather discouraging.

Moreover, the policemen receive no extra allowance for special duties in Muharram or while escorting polio vaccination teams. If they ever receive any extra allowance for such duties, the actual payment remains uncertain. For example, the officials who performed duties during Muharram this year, have yet to receive their allowance. Despite their low salaries, the policemen have to spend their own money while performing such duties. Similarly, there is no free medical treatment for those who get injured or receive any other harm while on duty. The children of those who lose their lives while fighting terrorism do not even get free education.

The provincial government and other higher authorities need to pay immediate attention to the police department in order to improve its efficiency, and make our policemen feel being valued. This will definitely encourage them to perform their duties with enthusiasm.

Name withheld on request
Bannu

Published in Dawn, November 16th, 2024