Street crimes on rise in Karachi despite search operations

KARACHI: Despite law enforcement agencies having stepped up action against street criminals, the incidents of theft and snatching of mobile phones and motorcycles rose in the city this year.

The latest figures of street crime compiled by the Citizens Police Liasion Committee (CPLC) shows the incidents of theft and snatching of mobile and motorbike did not show any downward trend, questioning the effectiveness of security forces’ operations and crackdowns to rein in street crime.

The data shows 21700 motorcycles and 15599 mobile phones were stolen in the metropolis this year, whereas 1853 motorbikes and 11620 mobile phones were snatched.

58 citizens registered complaints of extortion while 347 incidents of killing occurred in the city. Eight bank robberies also took place this year. Around 1294 citizens were deprived of their cars.

Last month, a meeting of the apex committee chaired by Sindh Chief Minister Syed Murad Ali Shah had taken notice of street crimes in Karachi, and decided to launch a crackdown and targeted operation against street criminals.

CM Sindh expressed displeasure that though other heinous crime have been controlled, but street crime poses a big challenge and there must be concrete strategy to control it.

It was pointed out that the illegal migrants, who number around 2.5 million in the province and mostly live in Karachi, are involved in street crimes. Therefore, it was proposed to make street crime a part of the apex committee’s domain.

The chief minister approved the proposal and directed police and Rangers to start crack down and targeted operation against street criminals.

He also constituted a committee under Law Minister with AG Sindh and Home Secretary to call on Chief Justice Sindh High Court to dedicate certain courts for speedy trial of street criminals.