THIS could either be seen as a bizarre attempt at thinking outside the box or a cruel joke at the expense of the suffering residents of Karachi. Faced with statistics showing that motorcycles are used in 95pc of crime incidents in Sindh, the provincial government, instead of instituting common-sense measures, is reportedly considering legislation making it mandatory for bikers to instal tracking devices in their two-wheelers. The proposed measure is in response to the incidence of street crime in Karachi, still stubbornly high despite the Rangers-led operation in the city which has otherwise brought down levels of major crimes such as targeted killing, kidnapping etc. While motorcycle manufacturers could perhaps be persuaded to instal reasonably priced trackers in the new two-wheelers, which could help in tracing stolen motorbikes, does the Sindh government actually believe that criminals can be netted through this hare-brained scheme?
Firstly, consider the numbers. More than 5m motorcycles are being used in Sindh, over 3m in Karachi alone. Are the traffic police going to check each one to determine whether it has a tracker? As pointed out by a cynic quoted in the Dawn report, the government has not even been successful in getting every biker to wear a helmet. If put into practice, one can only see the measure as affording yet another avenue for extorting ‘chai paani’ bribes from hapless bikers. Secondly, given the socioeconomic segment of society that uses motorbikes, even reasonably priced trackers of a quality good enough to serve the purpose would put a dent in the owners’ wallets. Lastly, one may be fairly certain that criminal-minded bikers will not be lining up to get trackers installed. Instead of wasting time and energy in this Sisyphean task, the government should invest in high-quality closed-circuit cameras, ensure adequate funds for more police patrols, and do what is necessary to give autonomy to the police so it can work as a professional force. Ill-considered gimmicks are not the answer.
Published in Dawn, October 16th, 2017