Crime rate in Karachi below that of many first world cities: DG ISPR

Asif Ghafoor lauds role of police and rangers in curbing crime rate in the metropolis

The Pakistan Army on Monday lauded the citizens and the security forces of Karachi after the port city's ranking in the World Crime Index Comparison improved from 6th place to 70th.

The index was carried by Numbeo.

In a tweet, Director-General Inter-Services Public Relations (ISPR) Major General Asif Ghafoor said Karachi has now left behind many first world cities behind in terms of crime safety.

Karachi at one point in time (2014) was 6th in World Crime Index. Alhamdulillah, today it’s at 70th with many first world cities behind. Credit to team of Civil Administration & Security Forces esp Int, Police & Sindh Rangers. Also to the citizens of Karachi. More stability IA. pic.twitter.com/8ghw1VptCn

— DG ISPR (@OfficialDGISPR) April 22, 2019

The list compares crime rate in various cities around the world like New Delhi, Houston, Dhaka and Sao Paulo ahead of Karachi in terms of crime ranking.

Since the Karachi operation, jointly conducted by the Sindh Rangers and the police, began in September 2013, the law and order situation in the port city has considerably improved, claims a progress report submitted by the Sindh Rangers.

According to the report, most of the operations, in the span of five years and four months, were conducted in 2018. In the year 2013, the report records 57 incidents of terrorism. It increased to 66 in 2014 and 199 in 2015. The number of incidents decreased to 16 in 2016 and finally zero in 2017. Two incidents were recorded in 2018, however.

The incidents of target killings saw a steep decline. In the first year of the operation, 965 incidents were recorded. It decreased to 602 in 2014, 199 in 2015, 89 in 2016, 45 in 2017 and nine in 2018. Similarly, cases of extortion also declined. A total of 1,524 cases were recorded in 2013, which decreased to 899 in 2014, 303 in 2015, 101 in 2016, 65 in 2017, and 51 in 2018. Incidents of kidnapping decreased from 174 in 2013 to 115 in 2014, 37 in 2015, 26 in 2016, 18 in 2017 and 13 in 2018.

The report further states that Sindh Rangers seized 13,224 weapons and 876,083 bullets of different weapons. These include 7 RPG rocket launchers, 139 heavy and light machine guns, 1,431 Kalashnikovs and sub-machine guns, 662 short guns, 977 repeaters, 1,584 rifles, 8,378 pistols and revolvers.

In all, 15,838 operations were conducted. A total of 11,619 terrorists and other criminals were handed over to the police and 2,210 terrorists, 1,881 target killers, 852 extortionists and 227 kidnappers were arrested. A total of 169 kidnapped people were also successfully recovered. The operations were not without casualties, 28 Rangers were martyred in the line of duty and 100 others injured. In 2018 alone, four Sindh Rangers were martyred.