POLITICAL INTERFERENCE IN PERFORMANCE OF POLICE: AN EXPLORATORY STUDY OF DISTRICT KOHAT

Abstract

The present study explores the problem of political interference in the Kohat police department in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa, Pakistan. This study highlights how this kind of interference compromises the police's independence in making decisions, enabling political players to abuse police power for their own political and personal benefit. Police lose their professionalism when they become involved in political matters, which have a negative impact on their capacity to effectively and fairly enforce the law. Public confidence in the police is damaged by this interference, which not only impairs their performance but also skews their judgment. The study also draws attention to the wider ramifications of this occurrence, such as the rising crime and corruption rates in the area. This qualitative study explores the experiences of 12 SHOs in police stations Kohat who are currently serving at police stations by using semi structured interviews to better understand the nature of political interference and the live experiences of respondents within their departments. The findings of the study contribute that political interference is driven by the political and personal gain which affect merit based decision and integrity of police. Officers are exposed to hazards and dangers because to the complexity created by cultural dynamics and public contacts. Disobeying such interference frequently has terrible consequences, highlighting the necessity of reforms to guarantee fair and efficient police.