LAHORE: Faisalabad region police claimed to have reduced the crime rate by 70 per cent in their limits, tracing 26 blind murder cases, tightening the noose on narcotics networks and arresting proclaimed offenders who had been absconding for long.

The official figures in this regard were shared in a meeting chaired by Regional Police Officer (RPO) Sohail Akhtar Sukhera.

As per the report, the regional command has adopted a strategy centered on intelligence-led policing, targeted action against organised crime and the revival of specialised criminal investigations -- an approach, which, officers claim, has begun to reshape the region’s security landscape.

A key feature of this strategy has been an intensified crackdown on narcotics networks.

Official figures indicate that police across the region registered more than 3,233 cases against drug traffickers during the past three months.

The officers maintain that sustained operations against narcotics distribution channels have disrupted established trafficking networks operating across urban and semi-urban areas of the region.

They say that a zero-tolerance policy against drug trafficking has not only increased prosecution of the suspects, but has also restricted the operational space previously available to drug dealers.

The report suggests that these operations were carried out through coordinated raids, intelligence-based targeting of supply chains, and increased surveillance in known drug hot spots.

Beyond the anti-narcotics campaign, the regional police command has also focused on apprehending proclaimed offenders (POs) involved in violent crimes.

During the reporting period, police claimed to have arrested 111 POs wanted in murder cases.

They included a suspect who had has been absconding for 25 years, while six others have been evading arrest for more than 15 years. Additionally, 94 offenders who had been at large for periods ranging from one to five years were also arrested.

As per the police, a similar trend was observed in cases of attempted murder.

The police claimed to have arrested 134 POs linked to attempt-to-murder cases during the same period. Those arrested included an offender apprehended after 17 years of absconding.

In addition, 128 POs who had been evading arrest between 2021 and 2026 were traced and arrested in targeted operations, the police claim.

As per officials, the region also reported progress in resolving unsolved homicide cases.

They says that investigators succeeded in tracing 26 “blind murder” cases, which earlier lacked identifiable suspects.

Police officials attribute this development to strengthened investigative oversight, greater use of intelligence inputs, and improved coordination among district-level investigation units. Police data suggests that major crimes in the Faisalabad region declined by up to 70 per cent during the last three months. While such figures require longer-term evaluation to establish sustained patterns, officials maintain that the decline reflects a more proactive policing posture and a focused campaign against habitual offenders and organised criminal networks.

The operational push has been implemented through coordinated efforts at the district level. Faisalabad City Police Officer (CPO) Sahibzada Bilal Umar, along with the DPOs of Jhang, Toba Tek Singh and Chiniot, supervised the execution of enforcement strategies within their respective jurisdictions.

Police sources suggest that enhanced coordination between regional command and district police has been a significant factor behind the recent operational outcomes.

Security observers note that policing outcomes in large urban regions such as Faisalabad are often shaped by a combination of enforcement capacity, investigative effectiveness and institutional leadership.

An official attributed this progress to the recent policing drive launched under RPO Sukhera, which consolidated these elements through a more centralised and performance-oriented approach.

However, analysts caution that while short-term improvements in crime statistics may indicate operational success, sustaining long-term gains in law and order will depend on consistent follow-through in prosecution, institutional continuity and stronger engagement between law enforcement agencies and local communities.

Published in Dawn, March 17th, 2026