KARACHI: After a visible surge in incidents of street crime during the months of August and September, the Karachi police have decided to devise a strategy to bring down the cases of robbery-murder, robbery-injury, snatching and theft of vehicles and mobile phones in the metropolis, it emerged on Wednesday.

City police chief Additional Inspector General Javed Odho chaired a meeting at his office to review the overall law and order situation.

“The meeting took a detailed view of crimes and the present situation of law and order,” said a statement. It added that the police chief decided to prepare a ‘comprehensive strategy’ to eliminate crime and criminal elements.

He asked officers to strengthen police action against criminals on a priority basis.

Sources told Dawn that the participants in the meeting noted with concern that street crimes were increasing again from August onwards.

Earlier, different types of street crimes had decreased in the months of June and July. However, the crime rate registered an increase again in the months of August and September, the officers noted.

Official sources believed that the diversion created by deployment of policemen to provide security to Ashura processions and Independence Day celebrations on August 14 might have contributed behind the ‘upsurge’ in street crimes in the metropolis.

Specific threat to religious congregations

Apart from an increase in street crimes, the participants also deliberated upon an ‘specific threat’ to religious congregations in Karachi in connection with Eid-i-Miladun Nabi (Peace Be Upon Him).

The sources said that recently, law enforcement agencies had issued a threat alert for possible terror activities of banned outfits in Karachi, Multan and Quetta.

They claimed that the banned Jamaat-ul-Ahrar (JUA) and the Gul Bahadur group had planned to carry out joint terrorists activities to target law-enforcement agencies in Multan, Quetta and Nishtar Park in Karachi on the eve of Eid-i-Miladun Nabi (PBUH).

The sources said that militant groups namely Waheedullah group of JUA, Azizullah group of JUA and terrorist commanders Rafiullah and Asad Muavia of banned Gul Bahadur group were carrying out reconnaissance of likely targets in Karachi (Nishtar Park), Quetta and Multan.

The sources said that the said groups had already tried thrice to carry out terror activities in Multan and now, they have planned to attempt once again.

The sources said that regarding the specific threat and forthcoming country-wide protest announced by the PTI on Friday, the metropolis police chief had issued directions to make appropriate measures to ensure security of life and property of the general public and the government.

He also ordered establishment of riot control police.

Published in Dawn, September 12th, 2024