Search

The colonial legacy remains visible in the Police Service of Pakistan (PSP). The PSP officers identify themselves as something different and superior to the public. It is common for PSP to view the public how the colonial master viewed the subjects of colonial rule. The study adopted an interpretivist approach with a constructivist ontological stance using thematic analysis on in-depth interviews conducted with the respondents. The study found that PSP has retained its colonial imprint. As an institution, the PSP identifies itself as above the law and disconnected from the public. The narrative of “us” and “them”. The xenocentric attitude, viewing the public as inferior and savage people and, most importantly, thinking that the main job of the police as an organization is to maintain order rather than prevent crime, serves as evidence that the police service of Pakistan has kept its colonial legacy intact. It treats the public as “subjects” to be suppressed rather than served. The 1861 Police Act and colonial legislations help the PSP keep the colonial legacy alive. The PSP as an institution serves as an example of the persistence of colonial institutions with resistance to change and reform.

Background: The distribution pattern of phase-variable genes varies from strain to strain and from region to region. The present study was carried out to investigate the distribution pattern of phase-variable genes within Pakistan-based Helicobacter pylori strains and to analyze and compare them with strains prevalent in other parts of the world. Objectives: To determine the distribution pattern of phase-variable genes in H. pylori strains circulating in Pakistan. Patients and Methods: Biopsy samples were collected from 85 symptomatic patients suffering from various upper gastrointestinal tract symptoms. The biopsy specimens were chopped, then inoculated on H. pylori-specific media and incubated in a Campylobacter Gas Generating kit. Positive isolates were further confirmed via staining and biochemical procedures. Primers were designed for five phase-variable genes using OligoCalc, an oligonucleotide properties calculator (version 3.26) according to parameters stipulated in the literature. Polymerase chain reaction (PCR) was performed on all positive isolates to determine the presence or absence of phase-variable genes. Results: On culturing, the prevalence of H. pylori infections in the samples was 44.7%. The prevalence was higher in females than in males, and it increased with age. PCR amplification revealed that the hsdR gene was present in 79% of samples, while the mod and beta-subunit genes were present in 16% and 30% of samples, respectively. The streptococcal M protein gene was found in 79%, while the fliP gene was prevalent in 56%. Conclusions: The distribution patterns of phase-variable genes in Pakistani H. pylori strains were found to be somewhat different. The dominant prevalence of the hsdR gene was an interesting finding, considering its role in bacterial