Rule of law vital to empower public and strengthen democracy

F.P. Report

PESHAWAR: Fostering the linkages between the public and police on mutual cooperation and information sharing mechanism is need of the hour to bridge the gaps and critical to ameliorate the longstanding public-police trust.

The purpose of rule of law is to empower the public with the sense of security and enable them to cooperate with and trust other members of the society as well as the institutions to achieve their shared goals and common objectives of social peace, cohesion and community development.

These were the notions expressed by Mr. Arif Shahbaz, District Police Officer (DPO), Lower Dir during the nineteenth round of Ulasi Taroon, Youth Capacity Building Workshops organized by the Center for Research and Security Studies (CRSS) at and in collaboration with Shaheed Benazir Bhutto University, Sheringal, District Dir (Upper).

The Lower Dir DPO said that even the government is not above the rule of law and there is a system of check and balance that kicks in, in case it exceeds its power or act above the law. The judiciary and media play a crucial oversight role to uphold rule of law and government accountability. Rule of law supports fairness and stability in the legal system and society at large. Absence of rule of law has countless devastating effects on the society where it leads to social disintegration, turmoil, uncertainty, vulnerability, distrust and conflict to name a few, he said.

Syed Liaquat Ali, Head, Department of Law, Shaheed Benazir Bhutto University, Sheringal said that democracy is all about striking a balance of power between the institutions of the state. Respecting will of the people is the key ingredient for the success of any political system. Democracy means that the will of the people reigns supreme with the presence of representatives in the legislature. Democracy provides fundamental rights to the citizens enshrined in the constitution. Democracy and governance are connected in such a way where even the elected representatives are held accountable.

Prof. Dr. Rahmat Ali Khan, Vice Chancellor, Shaheed Benazir Bhutto University, Sheringal thanked CRSS for conducting youth capacity building workshops on social cohesion. Such youth development activities help our future leaders to play their role for community development and social peace.