Peshawar records 30% surge in terror attacks

The provincial capital has witnessed a concerning surge in crime rates and terrorist attacks on law enforcement during the first eight months of the current year, compared to the previous year, according to a police report released on a Friday. This alarming data sheds light on the deteriorating security situation in the city.

The report revealed that the overall crime rate in the provincial capital has risen by 30 percent during the aforementioned period. In contrast to last year, when an average of 90 crimes were reported daily, the city has experienced an increase to 129 incidents per day in 2023. While last year saw a total of 28,373 cases of various natures being registered, this year has already witnessed 25,884 cases lodged in just eight months.

Disturbingly, the report indicated a rise in violent crimes as well. So far this year, 370 individuals have tragically lost their lives in various incidents in the city, compared to 327 cases of murder in the entire year of 2022. Furthermore, there were 576 cases of attempted murder and nine cases of child kidnapping recorded in the first eight months of 2023, in contrast to six child abductions and 32 terrorist attacks on police reported throughout the entirety of 2022.

Street crimes have also seen an uptick in 2023, with 323 cases of robberies in the first eight months, compared to 296 cases reported in the same period in 2022.

In response to these alarming statistics, a high-level meeting was convened and chaired by Commissioner Peshawar Division, Muhammad Zubair, to review security preparations for the upcoming Chehlum of Hazrat Imam Hussain (RA), scheduled for September 7. The meeting was attended by key officials, including Deputy Commissioner Peshawar, Shah Fahad, and Deputy Commissioner Nowshera, Muhammad Kabir Afridi, along with law enforcement representatives.

Published in The Express Tribune, September 2^nd, 2023.