Petty crime in Pindi sounds petty no longer

Newspapers and 24-hour news channels have turned what used to be infrequent into frequent -- and graver -- incidents. It seems that reading stories and watching blood, destruction and death scenes on channels and in newspapers have made the people as well as the law enforcers insensitive.

Police always offer the excuse of lack of resources in combating crime and terrorism. But the most disturbing aspect of the situation is the rise in registration of cases against police officials for their alleged involvement in criminal cases.

Senior police officials blame political meddling in postings and transfer of tainted police officers, which emboldens them to involve in criminal activities with impunity and protect criminals.

However, the Regional Police Officer Nasir Khan Durrani claims that he was under no political pressure and enjoyed free hands in fighting crime and appointing his subordinates on merit.

“Had the merit policy been followed in the appointment of police officers and punished those found involved in criminal activities, the crime situation would have improved in the city,” commented a senior police officer.

Several police officers were punished for their poor performance. Over 55 police officials were booked on various charges ranging from detaining and implicating innocent people in fake cases to extorting money, helping criminals, sexually assaulting women.

Senior police officials believe that all the major multinational companies, banks and shopkeepers must hire private security guards rather than depending on police for their protection. Those who fail to comply with police strategy will be charged under Shop and Security Act.

The police high-ups have issued the Standard Operation Procedures (SOP) for combating crime and terrorism in Rawalpindi district, restricting entry of heavy vehicles in the cantonment area, setting up police pickets and enhancing patrol, using sniffer dogs for checking criminals.

Despite these punitive actions and security measures latest figures show increase in murder, attempted murder, robbery, car snatching, vehicle, and general theft and kidnapping.

However, a slight decline in motorcycle theft and burglary was noticed from January 1 to October 31 as compared to the corresponding period last year.

A total of 12,491 cases were reported to the police during the last 10 months, as compared to 12,804 cases last year.

Of the total cases, 236 were murders, 358 attempted murders reported to various police stations in the district during the last 10 months as compared to the 206 murders and 342 attempted murders in the same period last year.

An alarming increase in robberies has become a major challenge for the police.

During the period in review, 488 robbery cases were reported to the police, as compared to the 454 in the corresponding period last year. During this period, 49 cars and 15 motorcycles were snatched by gunmen as compared to 43 cars and 18 motorcycles snatched at gunpoint last year.

Car theft has become a major concern for the people as 688 cars were stolen from different parts of the city during January 1 and October 31, as compared to the 581 cars taken away by thieves in the same period in 2007.

Like Islamabad, most of the time the police remained on alert and sometimes on high alert during the current year. Strict checking of vehicles at exit and entry points was carried out and even sniffer dogs were used to check explosive-laden vehicles. But these steps proved unproductive in checking car lifting. However, there was a slight decrease in motorcycle and other vehicles’ theft incidents as 290 cases of motorcycle and 198 other vehicle thefts were reported to the police during the last 10 months as compared to the 306 motorcycles and 223 other vehicle in the corresponding period in 2007. A slight fall in burglary was witnessed as 432 cases were reported to the police as compared to the 439 in the same period last year.

There was a marked increase in theft and kidnapping cases. During last 10 months, 646 theft and 364 kidnapping cases were reported as compared to the 581 theft and 228 cases of kidnapping in the same period in 2007.