Robbery spree grips Haripur's Khalabat Township

HARIPUR:

The reign of lawlessness persists in Khalabat Township with another brazen robbery striking Faizan General Store in Chauhar Colony.

Masked assailants stormed the premises, holding the store owner Faizan Gul at gunpoint and taking away Rs30,000 in cash along with a mobile phone.

This latest incident marks the third robbery in a week, leaving the traders and residents in a state of extreme anxiety.

Sources say the inefficacy of Khalabat police station in curtailing such crimes has left citizens feeling vulnerable and insecure. Calls for urgent action have been directed towards Hazara DIG and Khyber-Pakhtunkhwa IGP to implement robust police patrols and checkpoints across Khalabat to stem the rising tide of theft and robbery.

Demanding immediate measures, residents emphasise the necessity of police patrols and checkpoints during evening and night hours, particularly along bypass routes. They advocate for the deployment of responsible officers and personnel, including circle officers, for foot patrols to safeguard lives and property within Khalabat.

The recent incident follows a string of similar incidents, including the burglary of Syed Rustam Shah’s residence, where cash, gold ornaments and valuables worth Rs1 million were stolen by female perpetrators. Despite these alarming trends, Khalabat police have yet to make substantial progress in their investigations.

Published in The Express Tribune, June 4^th, 2024.