Integrity Icon – our campaign to “name and fame” honest government officials in Pakistan began seven years ago. Over the past seven years we’ve received over 1200 nominations for the campaign from across the country; and brought 35 of them into a vibrant network of reformers that is now working together to push for changes at every level of government. This has never been more important for Pakistan, as the country continues to face extremely difficult governance challenges. Blair Glencorse and Amna Rajput meet one of our Integrity Icon Pakistan winners for 2022.

Recently, after the seventh Integrity Icon Ceremony in Islamabad, we caught up with Omer Saeed Malik – one of our most recent Icon winners. Part of what we are trying to do over the next year is unearth some of the stories behind our Icons like Omer, to understand what makes them tick and how we can find ways to support their efforts.

Omer has had a long and distinguished career in law enforcement, with over 18 years of service in the Police Service of Pakistan (PSP). He is now serving as a City Police Officer (CPO) Faisalabad; and was previously appointed as City Police Officer Rawalpindi and District Police Officer (DPO) Vehari and Sialkot. Omer is perhaps most famous within Pakistan for ensuring justice for the murder of a Sri Lankan over blasphemy charges and arresting the culprit involved in the “Zainab murder” case.

During our conversation, Omer mentioned 5 key lessons he has learned from his efforts to ensure integrity within the police force in Pakistan:

1. Integrity is a Lonely Business – Omer made the point that corruption is the function of relationships. It is easy to turn down bribes or refuse to engage in misdeeds with people you don’t know very well. It is hardest when it is friends, colleagues or family members that are pushing you to be part of corrupt networks or engage in nepotistic behavior. This means having integrity can be lonely – Omer has lost many friends over the years because he has refused to indulge their illicit requests. “That is why this network of Icons is so important” he pointed out – it is a community of like-minded allies who can provide friendship and support.
2. People are Intrinsically Good – Omer came back time and again to the role of human nature in these discussions and the fact that we are all born with integrity. Children are honest – they have to be taught not to be so. “You need to be motivated to be corrupt but you don’t need to be motivated to be honest” he told us. That led him to the idea that family values and education are essential. The pathway towards honesty or duplicity is set very early, so working with young people on these issues is key. “We have to set an example – I never saw my mother or father lie. We have to give kids the courage to speak up for the truth, otherwise who will?” he asked.
3. Inclusivity is Central – we cannot be selective about when or with whom we have integrity. It is a value that intrinsically means being inclusive and empathetic. Omer has focused a large part of his career on supporting the most marginalized in Pakistani society – including women in particular; and in pushing back against the discrimination against religious minorities. In one instance, he was called to a riot in Lahore during which a mob was about to ransack a church. He charged in and saved the priest from the mob without thinking about it. “I didn’t think twice” he said: “Integrity is not just about refusing to steal; it is about standing up for what is right”.
4. This Cannot Only Be About Punishment – in his profession, it is perhaps not surprising that Omer is a proponent of compliance and enforcement of the law. In one instance, he caught a wealthy businessman beating a poor woman in Faisalabad. All of his colleagues told him to leave it alone because the man was influential and connected – but he refused. He gathered the evidence, made the case and the man was convicted – and remains in jail today. “We have to enforce the law, but in Pakistan the law does not deter some people who think they are above it. We have to focus on values and ethics, and demonstrating collectively what is right if we want to change the system,” he told us.
5. Adopt a Rights-Based Approach – if rights are respected, integrity flows from there. Omer recently introduced a campaign against police torture, for example, which is common in Pakistan: “because even the guilty have their rights”. He has pushed for Miranda rights for all detainees in Faisalabad; and set up a complaints system so that people in custody can speak up if their rights are abused. After he found that police officers were checking for marriage certificates for men and women found together in public, he also pushed back against this kind of moral policing- which no longer takes place. “As a result I’ve faced threats from religious elements, but sticking to my values is my reward,” he told us.

We asked Omer what his plans are now. It was no surprise to hear that he is determined to push for human rights in Pakistan. He has plans to develop a human rights cell within the police force that will be dedicated to protecting the rights of those that are most excluded – including women, transgender people and religious minorities. He also wants to push for gender parity within the police. “I want to see women in positions of leadership within the police – from station house officers upwards and station clerks downwards. When that happens we will finally be able to create the change we need,” he concluded.

*Blair Glencorse is Executive Director of Accountability Lab. Amna Rajput runs Integrity Icon in Pakistan for Accountability Lab Pakistan.