There seems to be no end in sight to abuse of authority and lack of accountability of those tasked with enforcing the law in the country. The killing of a Christian teenager allegedly by four police officials in Sheikhupura is the most recent incident. Reports suggest that Arsalan Mushtaq Masih, 15, was forcibly removed from a private education institution by four police officials and brutally beaten. The injuries led to the death of the teenager whose body was later left on the roadside. There cannot be a bigger indictment of a system of law enforcement than this: officials responsible for ensuring safety of citizens and protection of their life and liberty end up as suspects in the killing of a teenager. Arsalan’s death highlights that this country’s minorities remain vulnerable and deprived of constitutional guarantees of fundamental rights. According to his classmates, he had no criminal history so there was no apparent reason for his arrest. They have also said that apparently the deceased had had argued with a classmate who was the son of an influential person. The investigators need to ascertain whether the police have been used by someone in influence in the area to settle personal scores. That police officials could go as far as to barge into a class and attack a teenager at the behest of an influential member of the community goes to show that it isn’t just religious minorities but also all those without influence and resources who remain in danger of being at the receiving end of abuse of power in this country. The police already don’t enjoy a very good reputation among the Pakistani public, for they are not seen as upholding the public interest diligently. A trust deficit between a country’s citizens and police force does not bode well for the state of law and order. For this reason and to set the precedent that the police can’t attack members of religious or ethnic minorities it is important that the three constables and the razakar suspected in the case are held accountable to the law. * Published in Daily Times, October 15th 2017.