Walking a Tightrope: Police, Politics and People of Pakistan

What does it take to maintain integrity in a system rife with corruption? Tariq Khosa’s gripping memoir offers a rare, unfiltered look inside Pakistan’s corridors of power from a man who refused to compromise on his principles. Over four tumultuous decades, Khosa rose from a young police officer to head of the Federal Investigation Agency, facing down terrorists, crime lords, and political pressure at every turn. His unflinching account exposes the deep-rooted challenges within Pakistan’s criminal justice system while providing a masterclass in ethical leadership against seemingly insurmountable odds. This is not just another bureaucrat’s mundane recollection. Khosa’s narrative crackles with tension as he recounts high-stakes confrontations with the powerful. Walking a Tightrope goes beyond professional triumphs and setbacks. Khosa offers poignant reflections on the personal cost of his choices, the mentors who shaped him, and how he found meaning in service to his nation.

About the Author

Tariq Khosa completed his Master’s in English Literature from Government College Lahore in 1972. He joined the Police Service of Pakistan as Assistant Superintendent of Police (ASP) in 1976. His career in law enforcement spanned almost four decades, and he rose to the highest rank as Inspector-General of Police. At mid-career in 1987-88, he was selected as a Hubert Humphrey Fellow under the Fulbright Exchange Program at the University of Washington, Seattle, USA. As Inspector-General of Police Balochistan, Tariq Khosa brought the entire province under police jurisdiction. He served as Director General, Federal Investigation Agency (FIA) in 2009 and had the distinction of being elected as a Member of the Interpol Executive Committee (2009-12). National security and criminal justice. He has authored two books: The Faltering State: Pakistan’s Internal Security Landscape (Oxford University Press, 2017) and Inconvenient Truths: Pakistan’s Governance Challenges (Lightstone Publishers, 2019).

Binding: Paperback · Pages: 326 · Published: 2025 · Publisher: Lightstone Publishers

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