The previous year weighed heavy on the residents of Islamabad, mirroring the difficulties faced in the preceding years as the capital police failed to curb crimes, despite having access to cutting-edge technology.
The city, equipped with over 2,200 cameras, 23 mobile cars with cameras mounted on them, 72 pickets at entry and exit points, newly formed dolphin police squads, and rigorous patrolling witnessed a surge in criminal activities.
Despite these efforts, citizens found themselves vulnerable to crimes, and incidents persisted day and night throughout the year.
Contrary to police assertions of dismantling organised networks, sources within the police department revealed that street crime in the federal capital reached alarming levels in 2023. Armed criminals operated freely in upscale sectors and suburban areas, with citizens falling victim to over 4,000 incidents throughout the year.
Apart from citizens, police officials also fell victim to street crimes. Regrettably, two police personnel were martyred in deadly attacks.
The grim statistics include 179 deaths and 2,729 street crime incidents in Islamabad.
Police sources highlighted the industrial area zone's prominence in street crimes, with 750 incidents, while the city zone led in car thefts with 380 incidents and secured the third position in overall street crimes with 400 incidents. Similarly, Saddar Zone ranked second in street crimes and house burglaries.
In the industrial area zone, 30 murders occurred alongside 750 cases of house robbery and vandalism, and 190 valuable vehicles were stolen by unknown thieves. The city zone witnessed 14 fatalities, 400 house thefts, and 280 car thefts, and Saddar Zone reported 43 deaths, nine house robberies, 615 street robberies, and 152 car thefts.
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The Sohan zone experienced 45 fatalities, 710 house robberies, street crimes at gunpoint, and the theft of 121 vehicles. The rural zone reported 45 deaths, six armed robberies, 200 house robberies, street robberies, and the theft of 49 cars in 2023.
Operations SSP Malik Jameel Zafar was unavailable for comment, but a senior police officer on the condition of anonymity acknowledged the establishment of five new police stations and dolphin squads in response to the escalating crime.
When questioned, the officer attributed the rise in crime to the increasing population due to migration from other cities to Islamabad.
Other than street crimes, the residents of the federal capital also faced difficulties due to various political parties marching in the city throughout the year.
Subsequent actions by police and other law enforcement agencies also hampered citizens' right to free movement on various occasions.
Published in The Express Tribune, January 9th, 2024.
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