WHAT should have been an ordinary motorcycle ride with a ride-hailing service recently from Nipa to Safoora Chowk in Gulshan-i-Iqbal turned into a disturbing encounter that exposes a deeper rot within street-level policing. Under the bridge in front of Metro supermarket, at least five policemen had positioned themselves in a manner that appeared less about law enforcement and more about opportunistic control because the damaged road forces vehicles to slow down at this point.

The policemen stopped our motorcycle without clear cause. Three of them — a bearded ASI and two constables, one wearing keffiyeh and bearing a ‘com-mando’ patch — approached. Notably, none wore name strips. When ordered, the rider, who was wearing a helmet, presented his licence, CNIC and a complete set of vehicle documents. When nothing wrong could be detected, the ASI accused him of riding a stolen motorcycle and threatened him that either he should ‘cooperate’ or he would be taken to the police station. Both of us were ordered to empty our pockets. The rider’s cellphone, wallet and documents were taken under the pretext of inspection. Luckily, I was carrying only a few hundred rupees.

While the constables distracted the rider, the ASI handled the wallet out of view. Eventually, the belongings were returned to the rider and we were allowed to leave. Upon reaching our destination, the poor rider discovered that Rs2,500 had been removed from his wallet. There was no confusion, no misunderstanding. It was just a robbery carried out in broad daylight by those entrusted with the task of enforcing the law.

What occurred under that bridge was not law-enforcement; it was organised crime executed with impunity. Until accountability is enforced and oversight becomes real rather than symbolic, such street crimes by police will continue.

Noman Khan
Karachi

Published in Dawn, June 5th, 2026