SHC irked by police authorities’ failure to submit replies in street crime case

The court is hearing a case relating to rising street crime in the city

KARACHI: The Sindh High Court (SHC) expressed on Wednesday its displeasure over the police authorities’ failure to submit their replies regarding the resurgence of street crime in the metropolis.

A two-judge bench, headed by Justice Naimatullah Phulpoto, directed the police authorities to submit their replies by the next date of hearing.

The judges were hearing a petition filed by Muzamil Mumtaz Meo, a practicing lawyer, against the resurgence in street crimes in Karachi seeking directions to the police and paramilitary force to curb such crimes.

Naming the provincial chief secretary, home secretary, inspector-general of police, provincial director-general of the Rangers and others as respondents, 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 the 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 that the court also make cellular companies party to the case.

Therefore, the bench had issued notices to the cellular companies as well as the Sindh IG and Rangers DG to file their replies in this regard.

Taking up the matter on Wednesday, the judges found out that no replies had been submitted by the police authorities and the cellular companies, despite the issuance of notices and directives.

A law officer representing the Sindh Rangers, however, filed a reply.

The bench members expressed their displeasure over the conduct of the respondents, particularly the police high-ups, for not complying with its repeated directives to submit their replies.



It directed the IG and others to submit their replies by the next date of hearing.