Cop suspended for inappropriate questioning foreign tourist in Battagram

Regional police officer, Hazara division, has suspended a police official and launched an inquiry against others who had questioned a female foreign tourist inappropriately at the Thakot checkpost in Battagram.

An incident related to a foreign tourist caused controversy and it led to departmental action against police officers. This incident happened when an individual bike rider, Noraly Schoenmaker, related to the Netherlands was travelling to Northern areas, when she has to face unprofessional behaviour of a group of police officers and personal objectionable questions. This incident has harmed the reputation of Khyber Pakhtunkhwa police.

According to District Police Officer (DPO) Battagram, Muhammad Ayaz Khan, after the incident, Naib Incharge Head Constable Khair-ur Rehman of Thakat check post (located on the border of Shangla District) was suspended and sent to police lines. A departmental investigation was also initiated against him.

Likewise, two other constables, Shahid Akbar and Muhammad Waseem, were also seen in the video and issued a showcause notice. An inquiry committee was also formed to investigate this incident, and officers involved will face legal consequences to prevent such unprofessional cases in the future.

Noraly is travelling all over the world on her motorbike, and recently came to visit the natural beauty of Pakistan; however the behaviour of Khyber Pakhtunkhwa disheartened her. She was taken under siege by six different police teams, and they asked her for different papers again and again and asked irrelevant questions.

Noraly has shared a video on her social media in which a police officer can be seen asking her personal questions and one of the question was that why she don’t have a husband?

Noraly replied that she don’t need a husband, but police office kept asking her questions which included her age and marital status. When Noraly replied that her age is 37 and she is unmarried, then another officer with Khair was persistent with same questions.

Police officers felt ashamed on her answers and abruptly that that this was not a question of police but it was too late and impression of police was spoiled for Noraly.

As she entered District Shangla, a large number of police officers gathered around her and everyone started questioning her. During this one of the officer informed the police station that a female tourist is coming from Islamabad and she has a booking in a hotel. While, Noraly was told that she can’t stay in this hotel and she was given another accommodation.

In her video, Noraly showed disappointment and said that she thought that now there is freedom but it’s not like that. She also raised the questioned on a hotel being a ‘Hilton’ in a hill town.

Despite challenges, Noraly praised the beauty of northern areas of Pakistan and said that these places are very beautiful but it became difficult to enjoy it because of unprofessional and disturbing behaviour. She also told that she is tired after covering 270km of area in 11 hours.

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This incident raise the concern that police officers should opt the professional behaviour, especially with foreign tourists. Disciplinary action taken against the involved officers is a positive step, but we need to work further on it so that foreign tourists can have pleasant experience in Pakistan.

This incident of Noraly and Khyber Pakhtunkhwa police remind us that how much we need professionalism and politeness in public service sector.

Authorities need to train police that how to behave effectively and with proper respect to foreign tourist, which will not only promote tourism but will also raise the positive image of Pakistan.