Exploring challenges in the implementations of policing reforms in Pakistan from the perspective of senior police officers

Despite repeated reform initiatives, the effective implementation of policing reforms in Pakistan remained a persistent challenge. This study critically evaluates police reform policies in Pakistan, with particular reference to the Police Order 2002, aiming to identify factors that have hindered its implementation and to propose measures for improving the performance and public image of the police institution. The study adopts a qualitative methodological approach, employing interpretative phenomenological analysis to explore lived experiences and perceptions of senior police leadership. Data were collected through an extensive review of relevant policy documents and indepth interviews with ten former and serving Inspectors General of Police who have held key command positions within the police hierarchy. The study focuses on political, bureaucratic, and institutional constraints that have shaped the reform trajectory over time. The findings reveal that political interference and the absence of operational autonomy remain the most significant obstacles to sustainable reform. Frequent amendments to the Police Order 2002, driven largely by political considerations, weakened the original intent of the reform framework within a short period after its promulgation. The study further identifies weaknesses in police leadership, bureaucratic resistance, entrenched corrupt practices, ineffective accountability mechanisms, and poor working conditions as major contributors to reform failure. Outdated policing practices and the prevalence of informal networks, particularly the “buddy system,” were also found to undermine merit-based decision-making and institutional professionalism. These structural and cultural challenges collectively impede the development of a service-oriented and accountable police force. Based on these findings, the study recommends enforcing the Police Order 2002 in its true letter and spirit, establishing and strengthening of Public Safety Commissions, and withdrawing of amendments introduced between 2004 and 2008. It further proposes a minimum three-year tenure for the Inspector General of Police and the restoration of the IGP’s status as Secretary to the Government to ensure financial and operational independence. Overall, the study contributes to a deeper understanding of the political, institutional, and socio-cultural barriers to police reform and offers policy-relevant recommendations to enhance police performance and public trust in Pakistan