Pashtunkhwa National Awami Party Criticizes Police ID Checks, Calls for Respectful Treatment of Citizens
QUETTA: The Pashtunkhwa National Awami Party (PNAP) has criticized what it described as the unnecessary harassment of citizens during identity card checks by police and the Eagle Squad in Quetta, calling for immediate reforms and stronger action against crime.
In a press release issued by the party’s Quetta district chapter, PNAP alleged that police personnel and members of the Eagle Squad routinely stop citizens without justification, subject them to identity card checks, and treat them in an insulting and unprofessional manner.
The party said such practices are unacceptable, unlawful, and violate citizens’ constitutional, legal, and human rights. It argued that treating ordinary people like criminals undermines their dignity and erodes public confidence in law enforcement.
PNAP stated that the primary responsibility of law enforcement agencies is to protect the lives and property of citizens, maintain law and order, and combat crime—not to intimidate or harass innocent people.
The party further claimed that police have failed to effectively curb rising incidents of theft, robbery, vehicle and motorcycle theft, kidnapping, and other criminal activities in Quetta, leaving residents feeling increasingly insecure.
According to the statement, there is a growing public perception that some police personnel are not taking sufficient action against criminal elements, allowing offenders to operate with greater confidence. It questioned how effective action against criminals could be taken if law enforcement remained focused on identity checks rather than crime prevention.
PNAP urged the provincial government, the Inspector General of Police, and other relevant authorities to provide police officers and Eagle Squad personnel with proper training on treating citizens with dignity and professionalism. It also called for the introduction of clear and transparent standard operating procedures for identity checks and an immediate end to the unnecessary detention, harassment, and humiliation of law-abiding citizens.
The party also demanded stronger practical measures to tackle rising crime, arrest criminal suspects, and ensure the protection of the public.
The statement concluded by saying that the Pashtunkhwa National Awami Party would not compromise on the protection of citizens’ dignity, constitutional rights, civil liberties, and the rule of law, and warned that if the alleged harassment continued, it would raise the issue through all available democratic, constitutional, and legal forums.
