By: Musawir Qureshi
For the past several days, a shocking report regarding Bannu Police DSP Headquarters Rahmatullah has been circulating on social media. It was alleged that he was kept in illegal confinement for several days by his own police personnel inside the police lines and was later recovered through a court bailiff.
The question in the minds of the public was: Are police officers now unsafe within their own department? If that is the case, then whom can an ordinary citizen turn to for justice?
Meanwhile, another video surfaced in which an alleged phone conversation between DSP Rahmatullah and the DPO of Bannu went viral.
In the video, DSP Rahmatullah can allegedly be heard declaring himself innocent and swearing that he has diabetes, is 54 years old, and is also unwell. In response, the DPO of Bannu allegedly tells him that he is a smuggler and even refers to the possibility of his death and a martyr compensation package for his children.
If the video is genuine, then this is not merely a conversation between two police officers. It raises a serious and alarming question about the use of power and authority within the police department. An impartial investigation should be conducted.
If Rahmatullah is accused of smuggling, dealing in non-customs-paid vehicles, or corruption, then the evidence should be presented, a case should be registered, and action should be taken according to law. But under what law is it permissible to keep someone in illegal confinement, pressure them, or punish them personally?
There is another major question as well: If non-customs-paid vehicles are being transported from Bannu and the border areas to Peshawar, Malakand, and other cities, can only one DSP be held responsible for the entire system? How many checkpoints do these vehicles pass through along the way? What role do the police, FIA, Customs, and other relevant departments play in this process?
If an organized network exists, then all those involved must be exposed. The issue of smuggling is not a matter of one day or one year. It has been going on for many years. It causes losses to the country, while those sitting in positions of authority often appear to benefit from it.
Now it must also be determined whether an officer is being made a scapegoat in order to protect the real people behind the network.
In Pakistan, the perception is already widespread that “might makes right.” Why is the law harsh for the poor but soft for the powerful?
The police are supposed to be an institution that protects the public. But when power, influence, favoritism, and personal interests begin to replace the law within the same institution, how can trust between the state and its citizens be maintained?
The honor of the police is important, but so is accountability. The Khyber Pakhtunkhwa Police has made countless sacrifices in the fight against terrorism, but an institution that has sacrificed so much cannot be weakened by internal power struggles and the misuse of authority.
All police officers across Khyber Pakhtunkhwa should follow the example set by the Peshawar CCPO and play their responsible role in protecting the public. Along with terrorists and criminals, corrupt and disloyal elements within the police department must also be eliminated, as Dr. Mian Saeed has done and continues to do.
The actions taken against criminal elements in Peshawar demonstrate that strong leadership and the enforcement of law can improve both police morale and public confidence. The same principle should be implemented throughout the province.
If Rahmatullah is guilty, he should be punished according to law. If he is innocent, he should be given justice. But if the law becomes different for those in uniform and different for ordinary citizens, then on what basis can people expect justice from the state?
This is not the time to bury files or hide the truth. The facts must be brought to light. Because if even a police officer is not safe, then the claim of protecting the ordinary citizen becomes nothing more than a slogan.
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