KARACHI: The Sindh High Court on Monday disposed of for not being maintainable a petition filed against an alarming surge in the menace of street crimes in the metropolis.

A lawyer petitioned the SHC stating that the life and property of people of the entire city were at risk due to failure of police and other law enforcement agencies to curb street crimes and take stern action against culprits.

Citing the provincial home secretary, director general of the Pakistan Rangers Sindh, inspector general of police, Karachi police chief and others as respondents, the petitioner, Advocate Shahmir, argued that he had moved an application to the IGP about a rise in street crimes, but no action had so far been taken.

He maintained that the respondents were legally bound to act upon the law and provide safety and security to the people and protect their life and property, but they remained unable to curb street crimes and other acts being committed by muggers.

The petitioner contended that the respondents also failed to discharge their duties as guaranteed under the Constitution, creating frustration in the general public and they were acting in a manner resulting in failure of the state to provide protection and security to the citizens of Karachi.

The petitioner sought directive for the respondents to submit complete details of street crimes and other offences reported in the months of August and September in the provincial metropolis.

He also asked the court to direct police and Rangers to curb street crimes and save lives of people as enshrined in Articles 4, 9 and 25 of the Constitution.

The petitioner further submitted that he was a resident of Model Colony and like other parts of the city this area was also witnessing the incidents of street crimes on a daily basis and police had failed to arrest the culprits.

After a preliminary hearing, a two-judge bench comprising Justice Mohammad Karim Khan Agha and Justice Zulfiqar Ali Sangi disposed of the petition.

The bench in its order states, “The grievance of the petitioner is against rising of crimes in Karachi. Prima-facie this petition is not maintainable in the constitutional jurisdiction of this Court.”

With regard to the petitioner’s letter to the IGP, the bench directed the police chief to give reply to the letter.

Published in Dawn, September 20th, 2022