KARACHI: The opposition Pakistan Tehreek-i-Insaf on Saturday called upon the chief justice of Pakistan to take notice of growing lawlessness in Karachi and intervene to curb increasing street crime in the metropolis.

The party also termed the Pakistan Peoples Party government in Sindh a “failed system of governance”, which had remained unable to curb the runaway crimes in the province.

PTI-Sindh president Haleem Adil Sheikh also questioned the role of the police in the province, saying they promptly took action against those raising voice for justice but completely failed to challenge armed gangs of criminals in the metropolis.

“What would you call a government which even fails to provide security to its people on festivals like Eid,” he said while talking to reporters in Gulshan-i-Iqbal, where he visited to offer his condolences to the family of slain call centre employee Turab Zaidi who was shot dead by robbers a day ago.

“It’s not the time of lip services and hollow claims. The government must move now to address the deteriorating law and order situation in the city. So far, the government has failed to apprehend the perpetrators of these crimes which have left Karachi residents feeling insecure in their own city,” he said.

He sought intervention of the chief justice of Pakistan in controlling street crimes in the city. “We urge the chief justice to intervene and address the growing lawlessness in Karachi. Justice must prevail,” he said.

He called upon the government to prioritise the safety and security of citizens and to ensure that those responsible for such heinous acts were brought to justice.

He also emphasised the importance of providing immediate financial assistance to the orphaned children left behind by the victims.

A statement later issued by the party said that the PTI-Sindh president also visited the residence of Major Saad Sheikh, who was shot at and wounded in a robbery incident on March 31 and breathed his last earlier this week in a hospital.

He expressed his condolences to both the families and gathered details of the incidents.

Reiterating the party’s “fight against corruption and electoral fraud”, Mr Sheikh called on the people to join the PTI’s “struggle” in demanding accountability from politicians who had betrayed their trust.

He reaffirmed PTI’s commitment to standing by the people of Karachi in their quest for justice and security.

Published in Dawn, April 14th, 2024