Concerns grow over police conduct and lack of training in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa

PESHAWAR: Concerns over police behaviour in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa have resurfaced following a series of incidents highlighted in a report that pointed to gaps in training, accountability and public dealing despite legal protections for citizens.

A controversy erupted in February when Swabi Station House Officer Abdul Ali, also known as Gabbar, said women could not move around markets like animals. The reaction on social media led to his transfer, but the episode drew attention to broader concerns about policing culture.

It also referred to an earlier case from March 2021 in which Shahzeb Khyal, a seventh-grade student who was allegedly tortured at a police station in Peshawar, died by suicide while in custody. Little changed despite a judicial inquiry.

In another incident cited from 2018, a woman at Kotwali Police Station in Peshawar set herself on fire inside the station after failing to get justice. She later succumbed to her injuries.

Accounts of alleged harassment

Mubeen, a resident of Bhana Mari in Peshawar, described his own experience of police action while returning home from work with a licensed pistol. He said, “I showed my documents and licence. The pistol was kept inside the car and not displayed in any way. Despite this, I was detained at the police station, and an FIR was lodged against me,” adding that the episode caused serious distress to him and his family.

Mohab Afridi, a taxi driver, recounted an incident involving a traffic officer in Jamrud. “When I asked what my fault was, I was told I had blocked the road, although there was no traffic where my car was parked. Just because of the uniform, the officer misused his authority. It was deeply upsetting,” he said, after stating that the officer had slapped him for briefly stopping on the roadside.

Legal protections and training concerns

Under Section 4 of the Khyber Pakhtunkhwa Police Act 2017, police are required to protect the life, liberty and dignity of citizens. The Constitution also guarantees the inviolability of human dignity under Article 14. However, the repeated incidents have raised questions about how effectively these protections are being enforced.

According to information obtained from Peshawar Police sources, there is no structured system for the professional and ethical training of Muharrars across 34 police stations in the city. These officials are responsible for recording complaints and have direct contact with the public, yet they reportedly receive no formal instruction in public interaction or conduct in line with modern standards.

This lack of training is reflected in videos that frequently circulate on social media showing abusive language, rude behaviour and violence inside police stations.

It further stated that police personnel from the tribal areas of the province have struggled to bring about change in police station culture, which remains without rules and regulations governing dealings with the public. More than 30,000 police officers and soldiers from the tribal areas, along with personnel from settled districts, were integrated into the provincial police, but they have not undergone training in community engagement.

Experts call for reform

Dr Basharat Hussain, chairman of the Criminology Department at the University of Peshawar, said policing is an inherently stressful profession. He noted that daily interaction with criminals and civilians, heavy workloads, long duty hours and financial pressures contribute to burnout among officers.

He proposed refresher courses lasting at least three weeks every six months, or at minimum every two years, with a focus on public engagement, mental health counselling and professional standards.

Responding to concerns over police behaviour, Inspector General Khyber Pakhtunkhwa Zulfiqar Hameed said efforts were under way to equip the force with modern training and technology. He said “while addressing terrorism remains the most pressing challenge, improving public conduct is also among the top priorities.”