PHOTO: REUTERS
The reference to context was the two conflicting notions: police that would always claim a decline in crime and journalists who would always insist otherwise.
The officer said it is true that police in Pakistan are reluctant to record crime, especially against property as it would serve as a question mark against the command’s performance.
Amidst this scenario, the parameter is violence, he asserted.
With winter comes a new wave of crimes
Police cannot hide such cases easily as it involves other departments such as emergency services, hospitals and medico-legal certificates (MLCs).
If this parameter is used, it can be easily assessed that there has been a rise in crime against properties during the past few weeks.
Each week on average an incident of injury or murder during a robbery is reported in the city.
An assessment of the past week could easily consolidate the hypothesis.
On Sunday, a 35-year-old man was reportedly shot dead for resisting a robbery in Defence-B area. The victim was identified as Khalid. Details revealed that three robbers were trying to enter a house that was fought back by the victim upon which the robbers shot him lethally. The suspects managed to flee from the scene after the standoff.
A few days earlier on February 25, a suspected robber was accidentally shot dead by the firing of his accomplices in North Cantonment. Allegedly, robbers had barged into a shop and launched a looting spree that was resisted by the shopkeeper. A robber reportedly started firing and a bullet hit his accomplice that proved fatal.
A day before this incident, on February 24 a 35-year-old man identified as Usman was injured by firing during a robbery attempt in Nawab Town.
Several such incidents were reported during the past few weeks.
Apart from these violent incidents, a few robberies in which the looted amount exceeded Rs10 million were reported wherein more than five to six suspects were found involved.
Enough time has passed for the incumbent chain of command of Lahore police to settle down. Now, it is time to flex muscles.
FIA cyber crime cell registers over 15,000 cases
Last week, the entire chain of command had put their heads together to devise an effective crime-fighting strategy. The results would determine the strategy’s efficacy in the days to come.
Underage driving
In a tragic incident, three boys (12, 13 and 14 years old) died in a road accident near Pir Makki. The victims were riding a motorbike.
Road traffic crashes (RTC) data compiled by the Punjab Emergency Service (Rescue 1122) showed that a considerable number of victims are underage drivers. The worrisome part is the fact that the number of underage drivers is not declining at all despite the crackdowns and campaigns launched by the city and traffic police.
The policymakers and law enforcement agencies should reconsider their strategy to stop this nuisance that risks and costs so many lives on the road.
Published in The Express Tribune, March 3rd, 2020.
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