Arbitrary interprovincial travel checks: Top police officials grilled by Senate body

On Tuesday, a Senate panel scrutinized police officials for their conduct during interprovincial travel checks, questioning whether security measures were genuinely protecting citizens or causing them distress. The Senate Standing Committee on Inter-Provincial Coordination, led by Senator Dilawar Khan, focused on complaints about travelers being stopped and questioned over their CNICs, domiciles, and nationalities, particularly at checkpoints in major cities like Karachi, Lahore, Rawalpindi, and Islamabad.

Police officials defended the checks, citing ongoing threat alerts and endeavors to prevent smuggling and drug trafficking. However, committee members emphasized that such security concerns should not justify arbitrary stopping, searching, or intimidating citizens. The RPO Rawalpindi reported that 31 cross-border check posts were active in the province, with only three incidents reported since January.

They maintained the necessity of continuous vigilance due to daily threat alerts, while acknowledging the need for frontline personnel to treat travelers respectfully and avoid humiliating them under the guise of security.

Senator Aimal Wali Khan raised concerns about searches in tribal areas, especially the treatment of women and the need for police to respect privacy, local customs, and requirements related to purdah and burqa. Sindh Police denied allegations of discriminatory checking, stating that uniform security protocols were applied. They also argued that general goods transport should not be halted without a valid reason.

The committee learned that disputes among travelers often stemmed from CNICs classified as doubtful by the National Database and Registration Authority (Nadra). Officials mentioned that district-level committees led by deputy commissioners were working to resolve such cases. The meeting also highlighted the impact of inter-provincial food supply disruptions, discussing the movement of wheat and delays caused by road blockades and containers blocking roads.

Khyber Pakhtunkhwa Food Department officials updated the committee on grain stocks and procurement, urging detailed written information to assess whether administrative obstacles were jeopardizing uninterrupted supplies.

The committee's chairman warned that continued absence of senior provincial officials, including the concerned minister or adviser to the prime minister, could lead to privilege motions against officials deemed disrespectful to the parliamentary committee. Members also criticized divisive statements in provincial assembly proceedings, warning that inflammatory rhetoric could exacerbate inter-provincial tensions instead of helping resolve them.

The committee emphasized its primary objective: ensuring equal treatment of citizens, minimizing unnecessary obstacles to movement, and enhancing coordination between provinces. The message was clear: while security checks are essential, they must not compromise citizens' dignity, lawful movement, or equal treatment.