Citizens forced to look over their shoulders as crime rises

Economists and legal practitioners link situation to widespread inflation and unemployment in the megacity

KARACHI:

Carrying two phones, one for yourself and one for the man that comes to rob you, has been normal practice for most Karachiites owing to the city’s romance with street crime. However, the latest upsurge in criminal activity has left citizens walking on eggshells, some too scared to pass certain highways and others too terrified to carry valuables on the fear streets of the port city.

City resident Zafar Ahmad Khan and his neighbours from Zeenat Square, an apartment building in the Liaqquatabad area believe that lack of policing has emboldened criminals in their zone. “Petty criminals who used to rely on the dark of the night are now openly mugging people in broad daylight,” alleged Khan, pinning his hopes on the government’s Safe City project that promises to deter crime before it takes place.

Similarly, talking about his own fears, Irshad Sohail, who is a resident of PIB Colony said that it is the thought of going to ATMs to collect cash that leaves him in a cold sweat. “Ever since crime has taken wings in the city, I have been avoiding stand-alone ATMs and only going to machines set up within markets and bazaars,” he told, adding that he’s always looking over his shoulder on his way back.

Read: MQM-P suggests community-friendly policing to curb street crime

On the other hand, Rao Mohammad Noor, who lives in Federal B Area, is of the opinion that Karachi has become the land of opportunities for street criminals, where they can rob all they want and still go scot-free. “There are various areas here where the street lights don’t work and highways turn dark after nightfall. This has made it easier for muggers to obstruct traffic and commit crimes without being identified or followed,” he told, urging the government to mend the broken streetlights.

According to Police Officer Ishaq Qureshi*, the recent upsurge of crime in the metropolitan city can be linked to phasing out of the police intelligence system that once operated on a police station level. “In the past, police stations had operatives and informants in civil uniform, who were able to quickly trace and reprimand criminals and take action to the full extent of the law. Now, even if people file reports, they never appear in the courts or follow due process, so the culprit is eventually acquitted owing to lack of evidence,” he informed.

On the other hand, Hassan Sabir, who is a legal practitioner, strongly believes that Karachi’s growing romance with crime is linked to various conditions including rising inflation, growing unemployment, and exploitable loopholes in investigation and prosecution processes. “In my opinion, the increase in street crime in Karachi has left a traumatic mark on its people and has now started creating a situation of panic and chaos. Thus, street crimes should also be included in the Anti-Terrorism Act, a community police system should be set up in the city, and investigating officers should be trained for precision,” he recommended.

Sharing Sabir’s opinion, local economist Ashfaq Tola also believes that remedying widespread inflation and unemployment in the metropolitan city, is the first step towards mitigating its street crime crisis. “We have to also consider what leads a man to commit a crime. Ad hoc measures may work briefly, but in the long run we will have to consider addressing the root causes of crime if we are to change Karachi’s narrative,” he shared.

Speaking in this regard, Sindh Information Minister Saeed Ghani conveyed that the Chief Minister has approved a targeted operation to curb street crime in Karachi. “Those who are addicted to drugs and are involved in criminal activities will be arrested and sent to rehabilitation centers while an e-tracking system is being introduced to keep an eye on criminal elements, as part of the provincial government’s scheme to curb crime in the megacity,” he told The Express Tribune.

Published in The Express Tribune, March 6^th, 2022.