• Rate of incidents of crime in Karachi ‘declining’, claims IGP
• Says policemen suspected of having links with dacoit gangs brought to Karachi for inquiry
• Muttahida urges Lanjar to consider ‘local’ officers in appointment of SHOs

KARACHI: In a rare show of unity, lawmakers belonging to the opposition Muttahida Qaumi Movement-Pakistan and ruling Pakistan Peoples Party put aside their differences and sat together with top police authorities to find a solution to the menace of street crime in the metropolis.

An 11-member delegation of the MQM-P, led by Leader of the Opposition in the Sindh Assembly Ali Khurshidi called on Home Minister Ziaul Hasan Lanjar at the Central Police Office, where Inspector General of Police (IGP) Ghulam Nabi Memon gave a comprehensive briefing on street crime.

Karachi Mayor Murtaza Wahab, ministers Jam Khan Shoro and Dost Ali Rahimoon of the PPP were also present. The two sides discussed ‘growing’ street crimes in the city and sought an effective policing system to curb the menace.

During the meeting, the home minister sought cooperation from the MQM-P , asking the delegation to come forward and support the police in their efforts to protect life and property of the people.

Opposition leader Khurshidi said that the MQM-P wanted a political and administrative solution of the problem of street crime.

Talking to the media after the meeting, Mr Khurshidi said that killing of youths during street crimes was not a ‘political’ but ‘humanitarian issue’.

“We do not want partisan politics over this issue, but we want a political and administrative solution to this menace, therefore we came for the meeting,” he said, adding that no party should give an ‘ethnic’ colour to the issue of street crime.

“We will not let the citizens suffer because of negligence of the police or the government,” he added.

The opposition leader warned that if street crime were not controlled, they would be compelled to stage a “political protest”.

Responding to a question, Mr Khurshidi said that the delegation asked the home minister to give preference to ‘local officers’ in appointing SHOs in Karachi.

He said the home minister was also asked to introduce ‘community policing’ in the metropolis.

IGP admits surge in cars, motorbike snatching

During the briefing, the IGP admitted that there was a surge in snatching of cars and motorcycles in Karachi, but brushed aside the impression about any rise in snatching of cell phones and theft of four-wheelers and two-wheelers, calming that due to ‘efforts’ of the law-enforcement agency the rate of street crimes in the metropolis was not growing, but rather ‘declining’.

The IGP said that till April 24, a total of 48 people were shot dead in street crimes whose 46 cases were registered.

He said 12 other murder cases had been included which did not belong to street crimes.

He said out of 46 cases, 27 cases had been ‘traced or solved’ while 13 suspected street criminals were shot dead in ‘encounters’ while 33 others, including 27 in injured condition, were arrested.

He said of the 12 other murder cases that a section of media had reported as robbery related killings, eight of them had been ‘traced’ and it transpired that they were the outcome of other crimes, not robbery.

256 street crimes per day reported in 2023

Giving comparative data, the IG said in the last year of 2023, 256 street crimes (which included snatching of cars, bikes, cell phones and theft of four-wheelers and two-wheelers) per day were reported but in current year of 2024 till April 24, the said five heads of the street crimes were continuously declining.

He pointed out that in January 2024, 252 street crimes per day were reported, 251 in Feb, 243 in March and so far till April 24, a total of 174 street crimes reported per day as per data of the Citizens Police Liaison Committee and the police.

The IGP admitted that snatching of cars and motorcycles were on the rise, but snatching of cell phones and theft of four-wheelers and two-wheelers were on decline.

He pointed out that last year from January to April 24, 2023, a total of 8,912 cell phones were snatched, but during the same corresponding period this year, 6,940 mobile phones were snatched, thus there was a reduction of 1,972 cell phones.

“By making comparative analysis of street crimes, I don’t want to show that we’re ‘satisfied’ with the crimes but we feel sorry over the loss of innocent lives and want to tell the people that the police are making concerted efforts to eliminate this menace,” observed the IG.

‘Cops with ties to riverine dacoits not given posting in Karachi’

The IGP said that the MQM-P lawmakers had raised the issue of policemen suspected of having links with dacoit gangs in riverine area.

He said he informed them that none of them had been given posting in Karachi. They were transferred to the police headquarters in Karachi to face inquiries over their alleged criminal activities.

“These policemen have the right to defend themselves,” said the IG. Different officers have been appointed for inquiries against them. If the transferred policemen are found involved in criminal activities, they will be ‘challaned’ (formerly charge-sheeted).

He said none of the policemen transferred from Shikarpur had been given posting in Karachi.

Published in Dawn, April 27th, 2024