KARACHI has been the fortress of criminals since forever. The street crimes are on the rise again in the city. And what else can we expect when there is an absence of law and order?

I have been a victim of street crime more than once. Recently, as part of my university assignment, I went to cover an event at a mosque near Maskan Chowrangi in Gulshan-i-Iqbal, one of the bustling food streets of the city.

As we finished our shooting and were waiting for our ride, two persons came on a bike and snatched my phone.

I tried to chase them, but failed. There were a lot of people around, but no one helped.

I belong to a middle class family.

These snatchings and crimes hurt us a great deal. In fact, the lower and middle classes are the worst affected by street crimes because they already struggle to make ends meet. Due to financial constraints, it is hard for them to get what they have lost.

Regrettably, no one is safe from street crimes, be it delivery boys, traffic police, vendors or shopkeepers. Street crime is no joke. Thousands of people across the country lose their lives during such crimes. The government needs to make stringent laws to curb this menace.

Laiba Khan
Karachi

Published in Dawn, March 14th, 2022