ISLAMABAD: Even though the capital witnessed at least 2,977 incidents of crime over the first two months of 2023, the police have registered only 1,900 cases in this regard – a purported attempt at downplaying the sharp increase in criminal activities.

This prevalent practice of the capital police has increased the sufferings of the citizens twofold. Not only are they deprived of their valuables in thefts and robberies the police through non-registration of FIRs have refused to acknowledge this surge in incidents, let alone make efforts to recover their belongings.

Senior police officers told Dawn that criminal activities, like robberies, burglaries, thefts, and auto thefts were increasing in the capital, but there was a decline in the number of FIR registered against such cases.

These 2,997 criminal activities reported over the past two months include 12 dacoities, 580 robberies, 450 muggings, 927 thefts, including burglaries, 223 vehicle thefts, and 805 motorcycle thefts. Out of the total incidents reported to the police, they have registered only 1,900 cases – at least four dacoities, 450 robberies, 200 snatchings, 422 thefts, 165 vehicle thefts, and 658 motorcycle thefts, the police insiders said.

Police insiders say high-ups busy with ‘non-policing’ issues

The percentage of the cases’ registration was 63 per cent in the capital during the current year, the officers said, adding that the ratio of the registration of dacoities cases was 33.3pc. The ratio of cases registered against snatching was at 44.44pc while the ratio for the cases pertaining to vehicle and motorcycle thefts stood at 73.99pc and 81.86pc, respectively. Robberies’ case registration ratio stood at 77.58pc.

During February, at least 1,517 criminal activities were reported which included three dacoities, 310 robberies, 236 street crimes, 462 thefts, including burglaries, 108 vehicle thefts, and 398 motorcycle thefts.

According to a breakdown of the data, at least nine robberies, 10 violent robberies wherein victims also received injuries, and a house dacoity were reported during the corresponding period.

At least eight shop/office robberies, 147 street robberies, six vehicle robberies, 16 motorcycle robberies, 55 house burglaries, 16 shop burglaries, 88 household thefts, two thefts by servants, 16 shop thefts, and 93 street thefts were also reported.

On other hand, the police registered only 1,004 cases – two dacoities, 262 robberies, 111 street crimes, 207 thefts, including 76 burglaries, 81 vehicle thefts, and 341 motorcycle thefts, the officer said, adding that the registration of the cases against the reported crimes in February was 66.37percent.

In January, at least 1,480 crimes – nine dacoities, 270 robberies, 214 muggings, 465 thefts, 115 vehicle thefts, and 407 motorcycle thefts – were reported to the police, they said, adding that the ratio of cases registered for January was 60pc as the police registered only 896 cases. In 2021, the registration of the cases against the reported crimes was 96pc, whereas it was 86pc by the end of 2022.

According to police insiders, the crime rate is expected to rise further amid inflation and a steep unemployment rate. They said the capital police failed to perform their prime duty i.e. protect the property and life of citizens since the high-ups were purportedly busy with “non-policing issues”.

“Non-registration of the FIR (cases) is an offence as per the law and according to the CrPC the police are bound to register cases against every complaint and reported crime,” police sources said, adding that due to the non-registration of the cases, the culprits were being able to get away scot-free. They said non-registration of cases was a failure of the “top senior officers” and blamed them for the “fabrication” of the crime data.

Published in Dawn, March 24th, 2023