ISLAMABAD: There has been an 11pc decrease in major criminal activity reported in the capital since 2017, according to data the government presented on Thursday.

In a written response to a question in the National Assembly, Minister of State for Interior Shehryar Afridi said murders, robberies, vehicle thefts and kidnappings decreased, while the recovery of narcotics and illegal arms increased, in 2018.

However, the response contained discrepancies in the numerical decrease in reported incidents, and the percentage decrease.

Reply submitted in lower house miscalculates decline in murders, robberies and kidnappings in capital

The percentage decrease for car thefts, motorcycle thefts, robberies, murders and dacoities, as listed in the document, appeared to actually be the numerical decreases in such incidents.

The percentage increases in recovered narcotics and illegal arms were correctly calculated.

The minister was responding to a question by MNA Maulana Abdul Akbar Chitrali regarding provincial crime rates and measures taken against criminal activity.

The reply stated that there was a 20pc decrease in murders, from 105 in 2017 to 85 in 2018. The actual decrease was 19pc. Robberies also decreased from 427 in 2017 to 403 in 2018; the reply said this was a 24pc decrease when it was actually a 5pc decrease.

There were 129 car thefts in 2018 compared to 156 in 2017, and 236 motorcycle thefts in 2018 compared to 257 in 2017.

The statement said there was a 27pc decrease in car thefts and a 21pc decrease in motorcycle thefts, while the actual decrease was 17pc and 8pc, respectively.

The number of kidnappings fell, according to the reply, from 122 in 2017 to 99 in 2018. It said this was a 21pc decrease, while the actual decrease was 18.8pc.

There was also a decrease in dacoities, from 39 in 2017 to 28 in 2018. The reply said this was an 11pc decrease, but the actual decrease was 28pc.

There was a 47pc increase in action taken against illegal arms, with 1,072 cases registered with the police in 2018 over the recovery of illegal arms in the capital compared to 727 registered in 2017.

Similarly, action taken against narcotics increased by 56pc, with 1,418 cases registered in 2018 compared to 907 in 2017.

The reply stated that prompt action was taken against illegal arms and narcotics dealers, leading to an increase compared to the previous year.

The police also took steps to curb criminal activity in the capital, including identifying crime pockets, crime cluster analysis, the establishment of naakas, intelligence-based policing, combing and searching operations, random checks at guest houses, hotels and motels, general hold-ups (surprise checks), surveys of rented accommodation, illegal settlements and religious seminaries, patrolling, surveillance of suspected elements, data proofing of released prisoners and monitoring through Safe City cameras.

Published in Dawn, January 18th, 2019