Robbers continue to strike with impunity in capital

People deprived of six cars, 26 motorcycles during 24 hours

ISLAMABAD:

Despite a number of check posts in every nook and corner of the capital city, police patrolling and more than 1,800 safe city cameras, robbers and street criminals continue to strike with impunity as police seemed helpless in controlling the crime.

Theft of vehicles and motorcycles, armed robberies at homes, theft, burglaries and street crimes have become commonplace as citizens were deprived of 26 motorcycles and six cars in different areas of Islamabad.

In the last two months of the current year, an unknown but organised network of robbers and street criminals carried out more than 600 crimes in Islamabad, data obtained from different police stations showed.

The City Zone is on top regarding street crimes and theft followed by Sadar Zone. According to police sources, a surge in street crimes has been witnessed in sectors G-6, G-7, G-8, G-9, G-10, G-11, F-6, F-7, F-8, F-11, F-I8, F-I9. I-10, Golra, PWP and Pakistan Town.

The police and the CIA centre and anti-car-lifting cell of 25 police stations including one women police station have failed to contain crime.

On average, in the year 2023, Islamabad witnessed more than 10 incidents of street crimes per day with most police stations preferring to sweep the incidents under the carpet by not registering the cases. Weak plaintiffs are spurred by most police stations by simply registering a complaint in the daily register.

Despite patrolling and police blockades, the capital police have failed to lay hand on the organised network of street criminals and robbers.

Despite the claim of the arrests of criminals by the police daily, incidents of car and theft, house burglaries and armed robberies occur with impunity.

Police checkpoints have also been established throughout the district with Eagle Squad carrying out daily inspections of motorcycles and vehicles, but it has proved a futile exercise and a waste of resources.

According to sources, the City Zone has seen more crimes than any other area but no action is being taken against police officials over their poor performance. Due to the unaccountability, the people of Islamabad pay the price and police officials go scot-free.

A senior police officer said that the registration of 100 per cent FIRs was the main reason that led to the surge in the number of cases. In the past, he said, crime incidents were not filed by police stations to hide their performance.

He said that the registration of cases was not allowed to go beyond a certain level but Interior Minister Rana Sanaullah has issued strict orders to ensure the registration of 100 per cent FIRs which is being implemented accordingly.

He said that nepotism and poor performance may exist to some extent, but most qualified officers have recently been inducted into the police department. He said that a strategy is being made to make police patrolling more effective.

 

Published in The Express Tribune, March 6^th, 2023.