Relief in Karachi

Creation of a separate anti-street crimes force in Tariq Road, has strengthened the effort.

The best news out of Karachi in a long time is the sudden decline in street crime. The perpetrators of these crimes appear to be less active or some of them may simply be on hiatus during the fasting month of Ramazan, leaving the city’s dwellers breathing normally again for their cars, motorcycles, mobile phones and shops are a lot safer than they used to be. One of the major reasons may well be the sustained and ongoing operation against terrorists, outlawed outfits and militant wings of political and religious organisations. It also has much to do with the way paramilitary soldiers and policemen have positioned themselves on roads and streets and are conducting snap checks in an effective manner. Their presence in the vicinity of shopping areas in particular has served as a strong enough deterrent.



The creation of a separate anti-street crimes force in Tariq Road, one of the more popular shopping hubs, has strengthened the effort. Members of the squad are equipped with two-wheelers — which are better suited to chase down street criminals in the crowded, traffic-snarled area — and other useful gear to help keep watch over commercial districts. The installation of closed circuit television cameras along shopping districts will obviously help. It appears that some careful thought has also gone into the anti-street crime plan. The focus of the police, for instance, appears to be much broader this time: they are as concerned about protecting citizens in roads parallel to the shopping hubs. Robbers tend to strike when shoppers cross parallel streets and when they are either returning home or coming to the market. A larger and more strategic deployment of policemen could perhaps deliver a body blow to street crime. If the police can somehow display the same effectiveness in other months too, Karachi would one day be able to live down its reputation as the country’s street crime capital. 

Published in The Express Tribune, June 9^th, 2017.

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