THE crime graph in Karachi has witnessed numerous fluctuations, particularly over the past four decades or so. Since the 1980s, this unfortunate city has seen bloodshed on ethnic, sectarian and political grounds; Karachi has often been called an orphan city, with both the central and provincial governments unconcerned about its fate. While numerous law-enforcement operations were launched over the years, they merely did the work of a band-aid ie stopping the bleeding temporarily but not addressing the causes of the wound. However, the Rangers-led operation that has been under way since 2013 seems to have achieved relatively better results, though much remains to be done before Karachi can be declared a peaceful city. On Saturday, while delivering a lecture, the head of the Sindh police’s Counter-Terrorism Department gave a detailed breakdown of the pre-operation and current scenario. The CTD chief observed that while there has been a ‘drastic’ reduction in most crimes, a strategy for sustainable peace in the metropolis needs to be formulated, or else crime will resurface with greater intensity.

Indeed, high-profile crimes such as sectarian killings and kidnapping for ransom are down after 2013. Yet street crime persists, a fact acknowledged by the CTD head. Moreover, the police officer was not off the mark when he said that unless long-lasting solutions are formulated, political and sectarian violence may re-emerge. The active involvement of the Rangers has been cited as one of the reasons for the operation’s success. Indeed, the paramilitary force has played a key role in reducing violence in Karachi. But the long-term solution, as mentioned by the CTD head, lies in a depoliticised, technologically updated police force. Many criminal justice experts have reiterated the need for community policing in Karachi, while political interference must be eliminated. Or else, officers will concentrate more on VIP protocol and pleasing their political masters than patrolling the streets and protecting citizens. Therefore, the next Sindh government must make independence of police a priority.

Published in Dawn, May 22nd, 2018