• Orders police chief to sack negligent SSP, SHO
• IGP mobilises SSU, SRP in aid to district police
• People urged to install CCTV cameras

KARACHI: Amid an alarming rise in incidents of mugging, mobile phone snatching and robberies, Sindh Chief Minister Syed Murad Ali Shah on Friday directed the inspector general of police to bring personnel of the Special Security Unit (SSU) and Sindh Reserve Police (SRP) on roads to support district police in their fight against street crime.

“I want the city police to make it their mission to eliminate street crime,” he said, adding that people of Karachi had already seen the worst law and order, mayhem at the hands of terrorists as well as other criminals.

“After a lot of sacrifices endured by the police and other law enforcement agencies in the line of duty, the government restored law and order with the support of the people of Karachi”, he said. “Now the people of this city could not be left at the mercy of street criminals and we have to develop a sense of security amongst the citizens by eliminating street crime altogether.”

He directed the IGP to immediately sack or transfer the SSP and SHO concerned if they failed to curb crime in their district and police station, respectively.

Mr Shah also directed the IGP to deploy the police, SRP and SSU at all hotspots and intensify police patrolling for vigilance and keep sharing their photos, location as well as the deployment plan with him.

Perturbed at an alarming increase in the menace of street crime, the chief minister also ordered the police chief to keep him informed about the actions taken against criminals along with the number of their arrests.

The chief minister also directed the IGP to intensify the crackdown against repetitive/habitual street criminals, drug peddlers who had either been bailed out or at large.

Later, IGP Memon issued orders to the SSU and SRP to mobilise their units in aid to of Karachi police.

Street crime a big challenge: city police chief

Only on Saturday, Karachi police chief Javed Alam Odho while admitting that unabated street crime was a major challenge for law enforcers urged the people to install CCTV cameras to help the police to curb this menace by utilising modern technology.

In a statement, he said around 36,000 criminals allegedly involved in different crimes were arrested in 2022.

He said crimes took place but the suspects were being arrested through footage. He said that with the cooperation of citizens, traders and business bodies, so far over 5,000 cameras had been installed in the city.

“A total of 30,000 cameras have been installed in Karachi,” he added.

He asked the citizens to install CCTV cameras outside their homes and road/street to identify the criminals. “Street crimes will be decreased significantly after completion of Karachi Safe City Project,” he hoped.

Published in Dawn, january 9th, 2023