Random thoughts of A.Q khan about Lack of law and order

Lack of law and order

In the very recent past we first heard of the abduction of Barrister Owais Shah, son of Sindh High Court Chief Justice Justice Sajjad Ali Shah, followed by the shocking news of the murder of the beautiful-voiced qawwal, Amjad Sabri, in broad daylight – truly dastardly and despicable acts.

Both events were shown in detail on TV, where we saw a white car following Barrister Owais’ car for many minutes and we also saw how two motorcyclists followed Amjad Sabri’s car. What good are all these cameras if they are not monitored in a control room by the police? Analysing the films after the event is like crying over spilt milk, and will not save any lives.

Those scenes reminded me of a visit to Dubai almost 20 years ago. I was there with Gen Riaz A Chowhan, former surgeon general of the Pakistan Army, for a medical check-up. I had had a nasty cough for a long time, so we decided to go to Sharjah, where Dr Goma (pronounced ‘Joma’, as he was Egyptian) and a British radiologist checked me thoroughly and advised against the lung biopsy that had been suggested in Pakistan, and to take antihistamine tablets for at least two weeks. Two weeks later, all symptoms were gone.

While in Dubai, the Dubai Police Commander, Gen Dahi Khalfan Tamin, invited us to his HQ. He was known as a very competent and efficient officer and was very close to H H Gen Shaikh Muhammad Bin Rashid, the ruler of Dubai and the prime minister of the UAE. He received us with great warmth in his rather simple office and offered us karak chai, delicious Pathan tea. He told us that his Pathan servant gave him a full thermos of karak chai in the morning. He was full of praise for the Pathan workers who, he said, were honest and very hard-working.

Then he took us to the control room. What a wonderful system they had in place. He had the whole of Dubai on screens and 50 to 60 operators were constantly controlling/checking the monitors. They could zoom in on any picture. He showed us the parking lot and then a man walking towards his car and opening its door. Upon zooming in even further, one could see the number, make and colour of the car and could identify the man.

The whole scene could be saved/stored, if so desired. He said that the car was being taken either by the owner or by his driver. Had it been a thief, one could have immediately recognised this from his behaviour. Had there been any doubt, he could have been stopped at the next traffic signal. We have, he said, mobile patrols throughout the city and no criminal would be able to get away from our network.

We were highly impressed. Not a single camera was out of order. He then sent a signal to the parking lot to wait for orders and within two or three minutes, two patrol cars were there. He thanked them and asked them to continue with their routine patrolling.

For a few years my friend Rauf Siddiqui was the home minister of Sindh. During his tenure, the law and order situation was much better. Being a bachelor, he was always on his toes, spending about 20 hours a day on duty. He would take a short nap in the car while he was being driven about or in his office. At that time I had suggested that he should have at least 50 unmarked patrol cars and about 100 armed motor cyclists with wireless communication patrolling Karachi. They would then be able to intercept car snatchers, target killers, mobile phone/money snatchers, etc. Unfortunately, he did not get either the funds or the support needed for such an undertaking. While the government is willing to donate millions to the heirs of policemen/soldiers killed on duty, they are not willing to invest in any long-term measure to prevent crimes. What a shame.

In one of my columns I mentioned that Hajjaj Bin Yousuf had been the first to clamp down curfew when the people were mischievous, played intrigues and were all out to create problems. The very first night the policemen (shurtas) caught a man violating this curfew. He was carrying some books and, upon being questioned, he said that was a religious teacher (Mohaddis) and was going home after teaching his students. He was taken to Hajjaj where he told the same story.

Hajjaj said that, while he believed what he said, he had nonetheless violated the curfew and would, therefore, have to face the consequences. If we let him go, he said, then there would be many more Mohaddis on the roads the next day. He said: ‘I am very sorry to have to do this, but you will be hanged tomorrow, for if a man, even an innocent one, is sacrificed for the good of the masses, it is permissible.’ The man was publicly hanged the next morning and the whole city was aware of it. After that there were no more violations of the curfew.

The PM and the COAS cannot control this menace with half-hearted actions. It requires an amendment to the constitution, not only for the setting up of military courts, but also to make their verdicts unchallengeable. I am fully aware that there would be much hue and cry about this and some innocent people might be wrongly punished. But aren’t we losing thousands of innocent people in violent terrorist activities? To lose a few for the safety of thousands is the need of the day.

The Rangers/police should also give an ultimatum to people to deposit illegal arms within two weeks. Those not having done so, and found guilty, should be severely punished. After a few cases, another grace period of two weeks should be given; then there should no more mercy.

Furthermore, any death penalty handed down by military courts should be implemented within three days – no appeal, no stay orders. Draconian measures are the need of the day.