KARACHI, Oct 13: Opposition leader in the Sindh Assembly Nisar Ahmed Khuhro has said that Karachi now tops in the list of the world cities vis-a-vis street crime rate with an average 1,500 such incident being recorded every day.

“Since in most of the cases, a victim would not expect justice being restored to him, he doesn’t lodge an FIR. In other cases, the police officials concern would refuse to oblige a complainant to register an FIR,” he said in a statement.

“The entire responsibility to bring Karachi to the top of the list of city’s with highest rate street crimes lies on the present provincial, as well as federal, government,” he remarked, adding that the ruling PML-Q, in order to avoid collapse of its government, appeared compelled to play in the hands of a coalition partner, which had turned all police stations into its party offices.

He further claimed that all postings and transfers of police officers, including SHOs, were being decided with the consent of this particular coalition partner.

“This is a very serious situation where the chief minister is committing a crime by playing a role of silent spectator,” said Mr Khuhro, adding that the Chief Minister, Dr Arbab Ghulam Rahim had accepted the binding not to interfere in the affairs of Karachi.

Mr Khuhro, who is also a senior PPP leader, rejected the data released by the federal and provincial governments concerning the street crime, and pointed out that as against the official figures of 40 to 50 cellphone snatching incidents a day, the actual figures crossed the 500-600 mark.”

Quoting a survey report, he said that more than 60,000 mobile phones had been snatched or stolen over the past six months in Karachi. He deplored that the government was still not ready to identify and make public the places where these snatched/stolen phones were being put on display and sale.

The opposition leader said that quite a large number of gangs involved in street crimes was operating in Karachi and each of the gang would commit at least 100 such crimes a day to deprive citizens of their valuables, including gold ornaments, cash, etc., besides bags from women, whereas most of the victims would not report the incident to police.

“In fact, the government is not capable of combating the street crime,” he remarked, adding that it had miserable failed to overcome power crisis in the city as well.—PPI