City witnesses biggest street heist of year

The economic hub of the country saw the biggest street crime incident of the year so far when on Saturday night, 10 to 12 armed men set up roadblocks on the Korangi Causeway, stopped vehicles and looted over a 100 citizens at gunpoint.

The 'highway robbers' continued their operations with great satisfaction, making it seem like they had all the time in the world and no fear of the police and the Rangers.

The suspects rode off on their motorcycles after looting mobile phones, cash and other valuables from the citizens.

The victims said that they called the police helpline Madadgar 15 and informed them about the incident, but the police did not reach the spot in time. After informing the police authorities about this several times, the police denied the incident ever happened, but later only said that an affected person had told the police about the incident.

The victim further said that he had called the helpline, but they did not respond. Police should be deployed on the busy causeway, but there is no sign of police. Police officials not only denied the allegations but said no one had registered a complaint.

It is worth mentioning that where a private citizen does not file a case, the case is registered on the state's complaint, but nothing like that happened in the Korangi Causeway incident.

Causeway connects Korangi with other parts of the city through Baloch Colony Flyover. There is also a police checkpoint on the causeway, but no personnel are deployed there. The checkpoint has now become a hotbed of drug addicts.

Incidents of robberies are rampant in the city's most significant central district. The situation is no different in other parts of the city. A day earlier, the CCTV footage of a car being stolen from a shopping mall on Rashid Minhas Road also came to light. In the footage, the suspects fearlessly stole a vehicle from the parking lot in the basement of the building and fled with great satisfaction.

Hundreds of street crimes are committed in the city daily. Theft of batteries and side glasses from cars parked outside homes has become commonplace. Thieves fearlessly steal motorcycles by breaking locks.

Nazimabad, Sir Syed Town, Hyderi, North Karachi, Karimabad, Liaquatabad and many other areas in the Central District are considered unsafe.

Read: More than 100 people robbed in Karachi's Korangi area

Similarly, Gurumandir, Soldier Bazaar, DHA, Clifton, Korangi, Malir, Saudabad, Shah Faisal Colony, Sohrab Goth, Quaidabad and other localities are also severely affected by street crimes.

Civil society groups say the city's police, Rangers and other law enforcement agencies have failed miserably. Street criminals target civilians whenever and wherever they want and escape unchallenged. They have no fear of any institution.

Citizens have demanded the federal and provincial governments curb the criminals in Karachi and deploy officers here who can take concrete steps to eradicate street crime and give the citizens a sigh of relief.