Senate panel decries police ‘harassment’ at inter-provincial posts

A Senate panel criticized police for allegedly harassing individuals at inter-provincial checkpoints, according to the Senate Standing Committee on Inter-Provincial Coordination (IPC) meeting in Islamabad. The panel, chaired by Senator Dilawar Khan, expressed concern over unnecessary checks and misconduct at 31 cross-border posts in Punjab, which they deemed excessive and inconvenient for travelers.

While the police asserted that these checkpoints were necessary for security, the committee noted that only three incidents had been reported since January, suggesting daily threat alerts led to continuous checking. Senator Hidayatullah Khan and other members emphasized that police behavior needed improvement while acknowledging the strain on their performance due to heavy workloads and resource shortages.

The committee also highlighted regional disparities and the need for respect towards local cultural norms, particularly regarding women's privacy in tribal areas. The committee urged security authorities to resolve these issues through mutual cooperation, aiming for daily improvements in law and order while respecting citizens' rights and local traditions.

Police officials clarified that no discriminatory policies existed against any community, maintaining uniform border-checking procedures to prevent smuggling and respond to threat alerts. Concerns were raised over unnecessary harassment of travelers, particularly regarding CNICs categorized as "doubtful" by Nadra, which were under resolution by district-level committees.

The committee also reviewed food security issues, addressing distribution delays caused by road blockades and container placement, with officials from the Khyber Pakhtunkhwa Food Department providing updates on grain reserves and procurement policies.