Effective policing brings capital crime down

Officials claim to have busted dozens of gangs involved in various criminal activities

ISLAMABAD: In a year which saw the baton of command change three hands, the capital’s police got stuck in and managed to lower crime rate of the city.

The Islamabad Police have claimed that they arrested 4,450 suspects during the year, recovering valuables worth over Rs400 million from them.



In a statement issued on Sunday, police said a total of 234 criminal gangs comprising 620 gangsters were busted, while 289 stolen vehicles and 122 motorbikes were recovered. Moreover, 851 proclaimed offenders were also held.

“The citizens were not only protected from any terrorist activity but effective security arrangements were also introduced for their safety,” an official said.

Senior Superintendent of Police (Operations) Sajid Kiani said police officers were firm against criminal activities of mischievous elements apprehending several murderers, drug pushers, robbers and criminal gangs.

Kiani said that the safe city project had helped them trace criminals in as many as 608 different cases throughout the year.

Giving a breakdown of the data, Kiani said that police busted 73 gangs which were involved in dacoities, 116 gangs of burglars and 45 gangs of bike and car lifters. Moreover, police successfully solved 15 murders with 23 suspects involved in these cases arrested.

Additionally, the capital’s police mounted 207 search operations in various parts of the city in conjunction with law enforcement agencies, arresting 2,033 suspects.

Of these, 1,336 were released after verification, while challans of the remaining 697 persons were submitted in court.

During the same period, legal action was taken against 3,510 professional alm-seekers. The police also registered 716 cases against 751 people for possessing illegal weapons and recovered 81 Kalashnikovs, 69 carbines, 582 pistols, one machine gun, 40 daggers and 7,133 rounds from them.

A total of 997 people were held for concealing narcotics and liquor. As many as 880 cases were registered against them. Police recovered 400.787 kilogrammes of hashish, 86.750 kilogrammes of heroin, 21.241 kilogrammes of opium and 29,862 wine bottles during this period.

Following directions from the Interior Minister, the Islamabad police launched crackdowns against those involved in supplying drugs at educational institutions and nabbed 68 drug pushers. Police also recovered 39.924 kilogrammes of hashish, 7,287 grammes of heroin, 380 grammes of opium, wine, ice and tranquilisers from them.

Kiani said that they have upgraded reporting rooms at various precincts in the capital in line with directions of IGP Islamabad Sultan Azam Temuri while trained and educated staff have been appointed there.

Similarly, police pickets have been upgraded while security at the entry and exit points of the city has been enhanced.



A comprehensive security plan has been chalked out for the city and halting points have been created in the city for effective checking, the SSP maintained.

He added that the capital’s police have adopted a people-friendly attitude as a top priority while citizen and conciliatory committees have been revived at the police station level.

Moreover, Human Rights Officers have been appointed at various police stations to ensure the protection of rights of all segments of society.

Published in The Express Tribune, January 1^st, 2018.