Puls Topi Culture 

One of the basic, in fact the most important element of discipline in the forces is as to how does a member of it wear his uniform and carry himself around.  If he is smartly turned out and carried himself with pride that force would be “fit for duty” and its morale would be high. Unfortunately, it cannot be said of our police force – whether federal or provincial.  The most noticeable part is their headgear.  Not only all sorts of assorted berets, visor caps and at times even helmets are seen worn by them during  an operation but also rarely – very rarely – they wear them correctly.  Most cap badges on the berets are sideways instead of being on the left eyebrow.  The visors are turned backwards in a jean jaguar dandy style and the helmets mostly dangle around loosely.  It all presents a pathetic picture of the policemen who look to be ill trained for the operation, firing their guns at random aimlessly!  Now, what I do not understand is why don’t the officers accompanying their men wear any headgear? Is it some sort of mark of identification or display of misplaced authority that anyone having a piddling little pip (star) on his shoulders should be bareheaded amongst his troops ?  It looks ridiculous for an officer to be in uniform and not wearing a headgear and on the top of it waving  and directing  people under his command  in a Casanova style during an operation!!   In the parlance of proud professionals the word for such a behaviour is “Being improperly dressed”, which is a matter great shame for an officer.

May I draw the attention of all IGsP to it that all ranks under their command MUST wear the headgear and PROPERLY too.  It will certainly help in improving the overall discipline of the force.

Col. Riaz Jafri (Retd)