KARACHI: The Karachi police on Friday launched an online FIR registration project to help complainants get their cases registered through the internet without visiting police stations.

The launch was held at the new central police office building, where renowned philanthropist Abdul Sattar Edhi was the chief guest.

“The initiative was taken considering the number of complaints at the police stations that officials there avoid lodging FIRs for various reasons,” Karachi police chief Ghulam Qadir Thebo told newsmen after the ceremony.

“The online registration project will entertain complaints against all crimes ranging from robbery to murder and kidnapping to extortion. Every single complaint that deserves to be turned into a proper FIR will be entertained.”

He said complainants could access http://karachipolice.gov.pk/ to lodge complaints against crimes they suffered in Karachi. They could also call for any assistance in the process at 021-99225500 or send text messages to 0300-8293335 to make sure that their complaints had been received and entertained, he added.

The move from the Karachi police chief might prove helpful in setting up the centralised cell but it definitely comes as recognition of the fact that the city police have failed to meet the basic requirement of policing, which ultimately results in the common man’s suffering. However, the authorities say it’s one of the steps towards police reforms.

Published in Dawn, December 27th, 2014