Police body cams.

EXCEPT perhaps for Khyber Pakhtunkhwa where it fares comparatively better, the police force in the eyes of the public consistently ranks among the least trustworthy institutions. It is a regrettably well-earned reputation, given the incidence of violence against peaceful demonstrators, custodial torture, fake encounters, etc. Sindh's law enforcers are now turning to technology to bridge this citizen-police trust deficit. On the cards is a surveillance project that would require cops on patrol duty, deputed for snap-checking and deployed at check posts, to wear body cameras for the purpose of accountability. Any transgression on their part will be on the record; for that matter, so will unjustifiable resistance by the members of the public to lawful and reasonable requests by the police. The first consignment of 100 body cams manufactured by a local high-tech company should be on its way after a deal with the firm is finalised. Further down the line, the project is to include monitoring of all police stations in Sindh.

Evidence from developed countries illustrates the important role that body cams can play in determining police culpability in instances where they are alleged to have used unlawful tactics against citizens. However, the rot in the Sindh police involves fundamental, systemic issues that have little to do with technology. It is the mindset of the police, and the...