These days Pakistan is going through a difficult situation.
On one hand, there is a war like situation with Taliban.
There is an atmosphere of fear among the people due to continuous terrorist attacks within the country. The situation has become such that even police officers are hiding in their homes due to fear of terrorists.
They are scared of even wearing uniform. About 1200 police officers and soldiers have gone on indefinite strike in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa, Pakistan.
The fear of terrorists has reached such a level that police officers are reluctant to even go on patrol. Police stations are deserted without soldiers. No case is being registered.
About 1200 policemen of South Waziristan area of Khyber Pakhtunkhwa province of Pakistan are on strike for two days.
BBC reports that this indefinite strike is going on in six police stations and their associated posts of Lower South Waziristan, Toi Khola, Spain, Tanai, Shikai, Azam Warsak, Zagzai. No reports have been registered since Saturday in six police stations and their associated outposts in South Waziristan.
As per police rules, all the daily duties in any police station including patrolling, investigation of cases, raids, filing of FIRs, attendance at court appearances, presence of officers are recorded on the diary in the police stations but, nothing like this should happen. Is getting it because they are hiding in their homes due to fear of terrorist attacks.
Police compulsions in Pakistan
Police personnel on strike in South Waziristan say they are facing departmental action for using private vehicles while on duty in the area.
Many police officers and employees have also been suspended on these charges. They further say that they are not even being allowed to exercise their legal powers.
The haunting fear of terrorist attacks
A police officer, speaking on condition of anonymity, told the BBC that police officers in Waziristan are currently facing threat from terrorists.
He said that if they use government vehicles or police mobiles, they can be easily identified and the risk of terrorist attacks will increase. The risk of terrorist attacks is greater at night. That’s why patrolling is not going out even at night.
This police officer says that for this reason most officers use their personal vehicles to perform government duties.
No respect for 18 hours duty
The police officer said another major problem is the joint deployment with paramilitary forces at various check posts. He says that policemen are not treated respectfully at these check posts. “Policemen work long hours,” he says.
Most of the time the duty lasts for 18-18 hours. Whereas one has to stay at police stations and posts 24 hours. Still we are not treated well.
Police officer Usman Wazir said that the police have no authority in South Waziristan. “All we are ordered to do is file a case against so and so, arrest so and so, do this, do that.” Such actions create problems for us.