Daily Times

It is a fact that the lives of everyone matter and so on police lives too. Police lives matter not as a movement but a reality to see from different lenses that how it matters. Police have unique jobs and responsibilities that are dealing with the public. Police are covering different roles during the service. No doubt, the police is a service for the public and a force for criminals. Honestly, good and bad cops are everywhere in the world. Good acts of police must be appreciated and bad ones must be discouraged. Police always face criticism while working day and night to make us safe at every level. In a broader sense, no one is ready to acknowledge the sacrifices and efforts of the police. Police are a vulnerable group of society. Police are not treated as members of the society and labelled as evil. Media organisations are portraying the wrong image of the police.

Importantly, we have to understand about the lives of police officers despite ranks because of a wide variety of issues and challenges that they are exposed to, such as getting low salaries, unavailability of facilities and having no normal and social life in Pakistan. Since the outbreak of COVID-19, many police officers are being infected; more compared to others as they have to deal with public gatherings. At the time of the pandemic, police officers have performed different tasks because they are saving other people’s lives and also preventing crimes. We enjoy our events, festivals and weddings with full joy because of our police who stand to guard us. Whether it’s day or night; rain or sunny day; summer or winter, police officers are performing their duties without thinking about their families.

Sacrificing lives in the line of duty has always been a great tradition of the police in Pakistan. Police officers are prepared to handle any situation at any time. They are fearless. Police officers are wholly committed to fulfil their duties and serve the country with honour and pride. Being a police officer involves risk and sacrifice. We cannot feel the pain of their families. Definitely, a family is going through pain as it’s hard when parents, siblings, spouse and children experience the toughest time by losing precious members of the family. People should know about the sacrifices of police officers who risk lives for us.

We cannot count the services of Pakistan police’s brave and real-life heroes who risk their lives for a peaceful and healthier society.

In Pakistan, 1717 police officers have been infected by COVID-19 with 640 recovered from the virus whereas 34 police officers (Constable to Addl.IG rank) have lost their lives. We cannot count the services of Pakistan police’s brave and real-life heroes who risk their lives for a peaceful and healthier society. The breakdown of COVID-19 cases of police personnel includes 750 infected in Punjab; 659 in Sindh; 171 in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa (KP); 84 in Balochistan and 53 in Islamabad. Unfortunately, KP Police has lost five officers, Sindh Police has lost eight officers while Punjab Police has lost 10 officers. Balochistan Police has lost six officers whereas Islamabad has lost two officers due to COVID-19. During the pandemic, a worthy step by Punjab Police to compensate officers with Rs 25,000 per each officer from the police welfare fund who contracts the virus. Further, Islamabad Police has provided face shields to the police personnel, which must be provided by the government to all police officers. Such initiatives must be taken by other police departments to facilitate officers and these need more work to compensate officers effectively.

Government should announce grants for families of unsung heroes of police under the martyr’s quota. Moreover, federal and provincial governments must provide Personal Protective Equipment (PPEs) and basic health facilities for police across the country. There are no health facilities at a larger scale for police in the country and they have no access to occupational health and medical services. As per information, 12 police hospitals are known for providing services to police personnel in Pakistan. The breakdown of police hospitals includes three in Sindh, four in Punjab and five in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa (KP). Unfortunately, there is no police hospital in Balochistan, Azad Jammu & Kashmir (AJ&K) and Gilgit Baltistan (GB). They only have dispensaries. In 2018, the Ministry of Interior (MOI) granted permission to construct major hospital police in Islamabad, which has not yet been constructed. Police officers do not have access to proper health facilities. There is an absence of such basic facilities for police and no connection with private hospitals at the provincial or regional level in the country.

On the other hand, in the last three months, nine police officers have embraced martyrdom while busy combating COVID-19 and ensuring law and order situation. It was also reported that police officers were targeted by unidentified attackers in separate attacks. The sacrifices of the police heroes will never be forgotten. The services of the brave officers will be remembered. This is the time to acknowledge that police lives matter. Police have made extraordinary sacrifices for our safety. We stand with families of martyrs who have lost their beloved ones. We honour all front-liners and pay tribute to our police heroes and their families. We salute all police heroes who have martyred in the line of duty. Salam Police!

The writer works voluntarily on Police Reforms in Pakistan and is a member of Pakistan Police Reforms Think Tank (Internet Based). He tweets @AllogeneousJano.