I WRITE these lines as a worried parent to warn others that though the law and order situation in Karachi may have improved, criminals are still out there preying on the weak and the young. My niece who has just joined university was robbed at gunpoint a few days ago.

The incident happened early in the morning in PECHS a few days ago when four armed men on two motorcycles stopped a van and robbed students and the van driver of their money and cellular phones.

According to my niece, a girl shaking with fear and fumbling while taking off her gold eartops was slapped and abused by one of the armed men. She says the victim has not recovered from the ordeal and begins to quiver in fear whenever a motorcyclist comes close to their van.

This is the second crime of its kind in the area as some students who live in the vicinity have reported that a similar fate was suffered by another van. The victims have reported the robbery to the police, but obviously their parents are reluctant to become witnesses.

Some of my friends agree that such incidents have increased in recent months in PECHS. I urge the authorities concerned to immediately smash this gang.

Khalifa Kumar

Karachi

Published in Dawn, February 10th, 2016