KARACHI: This refers to a report in your newspaper titled “Traffic police fined Karachi motorists Rs 400m in 3 years” (February 8).
Crime in Karachi is at its peak and criminals now rule the roost. People do not know when and where they will be robbed of their cars and valuables at gunpoint. Similarly, traffic problems have made the people’s life miserable. The minister himself said that “people are arrested but they are not convicted”. But the facts otherwise are that people are arrested but released and the reason for this must be best known to the police.
These crimes are sometimes committed right under the nose of the police and other law-enforcement agencies which simply choose to ignore them. This forces one to think that the criminals commit crimes in connivance with the police or that they enjoy patronage of influential politicians. However, people need to be vigilant, too, and should take precautionary measures to avoid becoming victim of street crimes.
At present people are faced with a very difficult and dangerous problem that is how to defend themselves when confronted with criminals at gunpoint while they are unarmed. If the government is interested in controlling crimes, it should allow citizens to carry their licenced arms for self-protection in a concealed manner. This will deter criminals and will make them think twice before committing a crime. It will also embolden citizens and make them feel safe.
Deweaponisation is an excellent idea but not practicable, especially given the fact that the criminals will not lay down their arms. Traffic crimes can be reduced if violators irrespective of their influence, political affiliations and position are checked, arrested and convicted.
Sqn-ldr (retd) S Ausaf Husain
Published in The Express Tribune, February 13th, 2012.
