Guns, land mafias and fear grip Chauntra

While Karachi, Lahore, and Peshawar often dominate crime headlines, it is the rural fringes of Rawalpindi — particularly along the notorious Chakri Road — where a small police station, Chauntra PS, has emerged as one of Pakistan's most persistent crime hotspots.

Established in 1960 to serve what were once peaceful farming villages, Chauntra has since transformed into a nexus of land mafias, narcotics networks, and armed violence. Unlike urban crime strongholds such as Lyari or FR Peshawar, which have seen phases of relative control, Chauntra's violent reputation has endured for decades.

The area has witnessed some of Rawalpindi's most shocking incidents. In July 2020, a land dispute in Mial village escalated into a massacre when a proclaimed offender and his gunmen killed nine people, including women and children, within minutes. The trial only concluded in April 2024, with five men sentenced to death — a verdict widely considered long overdue.

Chauntra's crime trends reflect broader district statistics. Between 2020 and 2024, Rawalpindi recorded nearly 1,500 homicides. While more than 3,300 suspects were arrested, over 1,200 remain at large, and many cases are still pending. In February 2025, a police raid to capture two proclaimed offenders ended in a gun battle: two Elite Force commandos were injured, while the suspects escaped. An FIR under the Anti-Terrorism Act followed, underscoring the paramilitary-level threat.

The roots of Chauntra's decline lie in urban expansion and spiralling land values. As Rawalpindi's boundaries pushed outward, criminal interests followed. Locals identify the late 1990s as the turning point, when armed land-grabbing networks — some allegedly enjoying political patronage — moved in.

"Back in the 70s, people didn't even lock their doors," recalls Muhammad Iqbal, 78. "Now, no one dares step out after dark."

The land mafia dominates Chauntra's criminal ecosystem, protected by wealth and often political connections. A series of raids and recoveries illustrate their entrenched presence: in August 2019, seven suspects were arrested in Rajar with Kalashnikovs, M-16s and hundreds of rounds of ammunition; in September 2022, six gangsters linked to illegal housing schemes were detained in Sangral and Khengar; in December 2022, 83 suspects were rounded up across Chakri and Chauntra, with a cache of weapons recovered.

In November 2023, a woman was killed in a gunfight over land in Sangral, while a teenage girl in Khengar was injured by stray fire linked to illegal developments. Early in 2023, then-SHO Inspector Rana Zulfiqar was dismissed for allegedly shielding land mafias, exposing corruption within the force itself.

Residents describe a climate of fear and silence. "Evening life has died here," says Abdul Latif, a shopkeeper. "Shops close early. Nobody feels safe." Women and children are particularly vulnerable. "I never let my daughters walk to school alone," says Sajida Bibi, a mother of four. "Every week, there's news of a kidnapping or assault." Young people share the same fear. "My grandfather remembers a peaceful Chauntra," says Ali, 19. "But I've only ever known fear. Every night, we pray my father returns safely from Rawalpindi."

Despite regular raids and arrests, the police admit they are ill-equipped. "We are outnumbered, outgunned, and under-resourced," says one Chauntra constable. "They have Kalashnikovs—we barely have working radios." In 2024 alone, Rawalpindi registered 1,600 illegal arms cases, many linked to Chauntra. Recovered weapons included automatic rifles, pistols, and thousands of rounds. SHO Khalid Mehmood concedes: "The terrain favours criminals, and many locals fear reprisals. What we need is not only manpower, but intelligence, political will, and public trust."

Experts argue that Chauntra's crisis runs deeper than crime control. "Chauntra requires long-term investment: more police posts, community policing, fast-track courts, and freedom from political interference," says retired SP Tariq Javed. "Without this, nothing will change."