KARACHI, Aug 22: Incidence of thefts, robberies and other anti-social activities has increased in the jurisdiction of Aziz Bhatti police station, particularly in the areas falling in Union Councils 6 and 7 of Gulshan-i-Iqbal Town.

There were about a dozen narcotics and gambling dens operating in Shanti Nagar, UC-7, but the elected local body representatives as well as the area police had been ignoring the public complaints in this regard, a government employee residing in the area alleged.

"Hashish and locally-made liquor is openly sold here and no body has the courage to antagonize drug-pushers, who have backing of police and other influential persons," he claimed.

In case any report was lodged with the police, the complainants were asked to bear all the investigation-related expenses by the police officials concerned, he added.

Recently, a group of vegetable-sellers was robbed of cash, when they were leaving for Sabzi Mandi early in the morning, he said, adding that earlier, a gang of robbers had blocked the main road of Shanti Nagar, adjacent to UC-6, Block-19, Gulshan-i-Iqbal, and robbed the shopkeepers and passing vehicles at gunpoint.

Another government employee, residing in Rupali apartments, Block-19, Gulshan-i-Iqbal, alleged that a group of anti-social elements, residing in and around the apartments, had since long been engaged in hooliganism, extortion, insulting women, robberies, etc.

Recently, the apartment residents hired guards to protect themselves against such elements, but the anti-social elements started firing in the air to create panic, he said, claiming that they also threatened the chairman of the apartment union with dire consequences as he did not succumb to their demand for removal of the security guards.

The residents have sent applications to Sindh governor, IG, and other authorities informing them of the situation and demanding remedial steps. It has been alleged in the application that Aziz Bhatti police backs these elements. -PPI