20 police encounters reported across city
Police have reported as many as 20 encounters in the recent anti-crime operations in the metropolitan city. One robber was fatally shot, while 30 suspects, including 23 injured robbers, were apprehended in these encounters.
The arrested suspects were found in possession of 26 different types of illegal weapons, 19 motorcycles, and drugs. The recovered weapons have been sent for forensic analysis.
In a series of raids conducted across the East, West, and South Zones of Karachi last week, police have arrested over 714 suspects. As part of the ongoing anti-narcotics campaign, law enforcers seized 68kg and 141 grams of hashish, heroin, ice, crystal, and 15 liquor bottles with an estimated value in the tens of thousands of rupees from various locations.
Police confiscated more than 113 illegal weapons and ammunition commonly used in street crimes and other illicit activities from apprehended street criminals. Moreover, 56 stolen motorcycles and four vehicles were recovered during operations in different areas. Meanwhile, Jamaat-e-Islami (JI) Karachi Ameer Engr Hafiz Naeemur Rehman has expressed grave concerns over horrible crime statistics reported in the mega city and demanded of the authorities to take decisive action to reform the police department.
Read ANF, police asked to record proof during raids
The JI leader expressed these views here on Sunday while responding to media reports that showed over 100 innocent citizens killed in more than 77800 crimes.
He said that the fourth incident of involvement of the police department in robberies in the past few days have unmasked the bitter reality behind the skyrocketing crimes in the city and highlighted the gravity of the situation.
The reiterated his demand for police reforms and said that the Karachi police should be consisted of Karachiites by at least 80 percent in order to curb the crimes. He further demanded of the authorities to purge the police department of black sheep.
On the occasion, he highlighted the unrest and sense of vulnerability among masses due to support for criminals from within the police department. He also demanded the completion of the safe city project on war footing basis.
Published in The Express Tribune, December 4th, 2023.