I worked in Commissioner Rawalpindi’s office as an upper-division clerk until the late sixties. During my service, I saw that an honest and hardworking officer who cares for people would always focus on discharging his/her duties at the best rather than appeasing higher-ups. One such officer that I had the honour to work with was Mr Wajihuddin who was appointed commissioner Rawalpindi at a time when the movement against the martial law of General Ayub Khan was at its peak.
The public was protesting, taking out rallies, and staging sit-ins in Rawalpindi and other parts of the country on daily basis. Mr Wajhiuddin was appointed after two of his predecessors failed to control mobs and law order. When he took charge, I was working in the control room responsible for collecting the information from various sources and presenting it to the commissioner. He changed the process and himself kept close contact with the DIG and deputy commissioners asking for daily progress. He very frequently went on visits to various parts of the city to make sure everything was under control.
He did not let the police use a heavy-handed approach and advised the administration to refrain from violating the rights of people. He would only allow the use of force if the red line was being crossed. The DIG at one point disagreed with the commissioner and wanted to use heavy force to thwart the protests at Committee Chowk in Rawalpindi. However, the commissioner was very firm and ordered the police to refrain from resorting to unnecessary force. The DIG tried to resist but he clearly told the DIG that being responsible for maintaining law and order in the city, he would never allow unnecessary use of force.
He did not take heavy-handed action against the meat suppliers who were protesting the relocation of the slaughterhouse to Sihala. He told me that they had the right to protest as long as they remained non-violent. He discharged his duties with full honesty and served the public in a true sense unlike the civil servants of today who are more interested in keeping the higher-ups and politicians happy than performing their job. I wish we would have more honest and upright civil servants like Mr Wajihuddin.
RAJA SHAFAATULLAH
Islamabad
