Rising street crimes: SHC issues notices to cellular companies

Petitioner had requested court to direct law enforcers to take action, provide protection to citizens

KARACHI: The Sindh High Court (SHC) issued on Monday notices to private cellular companies impleaded as party in a case relating to growing street crime in the metropolis.

A two-judge bench, headed by Justice Naimatullah Phulpoto, was hearing a petition filed by Muzamil Mumtaz Meo, a practicing lawyer, who had approached the court against the resurge in street crimes in Karachi and had sought directions for the police and paramilitary force to curb such crimes. He had named the provincial chief secretary, home secretary, inspector-general of police and others as respondents.

In the plea, he argued that the graph of street crime in the city had jumped to an alarming height and criminals were depriving citizens of their valuables. Many people have lost their lives and others have been injured during street crimes, he claimed.



The petitioner had pointed out that most of such crimes were being committed in the Landhi and Korangi neighbourhoods. Meo had alleged that the police had failed to control the increasing street crime and asked for protection of the citizens.

In the plea, he had requested the court to direct the police and other law enforcement agencies to take action against the criminals and provide protection to the citizens, which was their duty under the law.

On the previous hearing, a federal law officer had suggested to the court to also make cellular companies a part of the case.



Therefore, on Monday, the petitioner filed an amended memo, naming private cellular companies as a respondent in the case.

The judges issued notices to the cellular companies to file their comments by a date to be notified later by the office.