KARACHI: Inspector general of Sindh police A.D. Khowaja on Thursday called for adopting a ‘comprehensive strategy’ to control the growing incidents of street crime in the metropolis, saying that the police alone could not be held responsible for the curse.

He was talking to the media after a passing out parade of 819 police personnel, including 275 women, at Shaheed Benazir Bhutto Elite Police Training Centre, Razzaqabad.

“A comprehensive strategy is needed to eliminate street crimes,” said the IG.

Discusses factors behind violent crime in metropolis

Talking about the causes of unabated street crimes in the provincial capital, the police chief said the city’s population was estimated to be over 20 million and 50 per cent of the population was living in slums. A large number of people were living without documents.

Furthermore, the city was considered as the most weaponised city in Asia. Moreover, there were 2,500 cameras, which were insufficient to cover around 25 million people.

Besides, bad economy and unemployment were also contributing to street crimes.

“It is our responsibility to control street crimes but police alone cannot be held responsible for it,” said the Sindh police chief.

However, he claimed that during the last 15 days around 200 alleged street criminals had been arrested in the metropolis.

He said he believed that crimes had not been eliminated even in ideal societies.

The IG also called for recognising sacrifices rendered by the police to protect the life and property of the people. “Sacrifices of 1,100 policemen should also be remembered,” he said.

Mehsud murder case

In reply to a question about Naqeebullah Mehsud, who was gunned down by police in a fake encounter on Jan 13, the IG reiterated that the 27-year-old man from South Waziristan was innocent.

About the arrest of fugitive former Malir SSP Rao Anwar, the provincial police chief said that if Rao Anwar could not present himself even after an order of the Supreme Court, he would have to face the consequences. He said he hoped that all accused policemen would be arrested and punished.

‘Unfair criticism’

The provincial police chief complained about what he called unfair criticism about performance of the police force and feared that it might undermine the police morale.

“Morale of the police is not undermined when an action is taken against officers over illegality but unnecessary criticism certainly undermines it,” he said.

Regarding the ongoing protest of dismissed policemen outside the Karachi Press Club, the IG said they were dismissed under a Supreme Court order as they were illegally recruited.

They were given opportunities three times but most of them could not fulfil the merit criteria. However, of them 500 were made part of the police force, he said.

Two dreams

Earlier, speaking at the passing out parade, Mr Khowaja said that when he assumed office as the police chief, he had two dreams: to initiate the process of modernisation of the police force and recruitment of personnel on merit to tackle terrorism and other crimes.

He claimed that over 2,500 policemen had recently been recruited on merit.

The IG told the newly recruited police personnel that they were not personal servants of anybody; they were servants of the state and had to uphold the law.

“You have to use the force of law against dacoits, criminals and terrorists, not against innocent citizens,” said Mr Khowaja.

Published in Dawn, February 23rd, 2018