Police seem helpless to curb brazen robberies

34 people have been killed during street crimes so far this year

KARACHI:

Police seem to be helpless in front of trigger-happy muggers who are not only looting people brazenly but also ruthlessly killing them on slight resistance. In the latest incident, a young man was shot dead when he put up resistance during a robbery in Allahwala Town of Korangi Industrial Area, taking the number of such murders to 34 so far this year.

The victim, identified as 22-year-old Laraib, a BBA student, was shot in the head by ruthless robbers riding a motorcycle. The deadly shooting took place near Saad Bin Muaz Mosque in Sector 31 of Allahwala Town. Laraib's body was shifted to the JPMC for a post-mortem examination.

SHO Faraz Khan said the tragic killing took place on the street corner near the victim's residence. While the motives for the shooting are immediately unclear, police seeking more information from the victim's family.

In a separate incident, a 24-year-old man, named Haris, shot in his leg during an exchange of fire with robbers at Madina Masjid in North Nazimabad, Block B. Volunteers shifted him to the Abbasi Shaheed Hospital for urgent medical attention.

Read: 135 people killed, over 1,000 injured resisting robbers

Meanwhile, Sindh Chief Minister Murad Ali Shah took notice of the killing of Laraib and directed the provincial police chief to apprehend the perpetrators and submit a report on the incident.

Expressing his concern, the chief minister said that such incidents have no place in society, particularly when students are considered valuable assets. He called upon the law enforcement agencies to enhance police pickets and patrols in areas where incidents of robbery are prevalent.

The chief minister referred to the alarming increase in muggings, stating, "The rise in muggings is a cause for concern. I want an atmosphere of peace and order to be maintained in the city." He stressed the importance of creating an environment where people can freely engage in their daily routine without fear.

Meanwhile, four persons, including a nine-year-old schoolchild, were injured when armed robbers opened fire on them on Sharea Faisal at Natha Khan Goth Bridge on Tuesday.

The injured have been identified as nine-year-old Abdullah, son of Yasin; 26-year-old Shoaib, son of Malik Nazir; 36-year-old Muhammad Zubair, son of Talib Hussain; and 62-year-old Muhammad Ibrahim, son of Rahim Bakhsh.

According to Irfan Asif, SHO of Airport police station, Shoaib, Zubair, and Ibrahim were traveling on a motorcycle. They were intercepted by six armed robbers riding two motorcycles. The incident happened as they crossed Sharea Faisal police station and got onto Natha Khan Bridge. Despite being shot, the victims did not stop and rode on.

Upon reaching the petrol pump at Malir Halt, the armed robbers, in pursuit, fired another shot at the three persons. As a result, Abdullah, who was accompanying his father to school, suffered a bullet injury to his right hand. The robbers fled the scene after the second attack.

Published in The Express Tribune, March 6^th, 2024.