KARACHI: Karachi police chief Mushtaq Ahmed Mahar conceded on Friday that unlike targeted killings and acts of terrorism, the incidence of street crime in the metropolis had not come down.

He said that for a city of over 18 million people there were only 30,000 policemen who were already battling organised criminal gangs, armed wings of political parties and militants of banned outfits.

Speaking to newsmen after signing a memorandum of understanding between the Karachi police and Voice of Karachi (VoK), a non-governmental organisation, he said due to unavailability of the required number of force, the law enforcement agency was focusing on technological support for regular policing and investigations.

“The signing ceremony today is an initiative on the same line,” he said. “We are well aware of the policing challenges in the city and for that a comprehensive strategy is being devised to fight every crime. That’s true that the ratio of street crime has not declined to that extent despite the operation in Karachi, but we hope to change the situation positively very soon.”

Published in Dawn, August 22nd, 2015

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