Police skater squad fails to roll into action

Robbers looted citizens by blocking traffic on the Korangi, but the special skating force of Karachi police was nowhere to be seen. Since its inception, the skating force has not been seen by the citizens thwarting any incident.

Earlier last year, DIG Security introduced the first skating force in Karachi in the style of developed countries of the world. The task of this force was to prevent incidents of looting from citizens trapped in traffic jams. DIG Security Maqsood Memon had set up this unit last year, which seems to be a complete failure.

On Saturday night, ten to twelve armed men barricaded the Korangi Causeway in the Korangi area and looted civilians indiscriminately. During this time, there was a traffic jam, but the armed men continued to rob the citizens without any fear, and the skating force was nowhere to be seen.

Even before this, innumerable incidents in the city where armed men robbed the citizens during a traffic jam and fled. In several incidents, the accused also opened fire, injuring civilians.

Read: Worsening crime scene in Karachi

Citizens say that since its inception, the skating force has not been seen helping the citizens on the streets, which gives an impression that this unit was a mere showpiece and did not have any practical purpose. Citizens questioned that only during the Pakistan Super League police officers were seen skating on the roads around the stadium. But, those roads are closed for regular traffic, so what is the need for a skating force in such a situation?

Civil society groups say that if a special unit is set up in the police at the behest of anyone, it should take practical steps to protect the lives and property of the citizens.

It should be noted that Maqsood Memon is known for setting up new units in the police department. These include the Urban Flood Rescue Unit and the Anti-Riots Unit.