Three year tally: More than 0.1m theft cases filed countrywide, says Malik

Tells Senate that 97 cases of suicide attacks were registered in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa in past three years.

ISLAMABAD: According to interior ministry’s crime statistics, Khyber Pakhtunkhwa lags far behind Punjab and Sindh in the number of thefts and robberies but tops in incidents of suicide attacks during the last three years.

Interior Minister Rehman Malik informed the Senate on Wednesday that the police registered more than 100,000 theft cases across the country during the last three years.

In his written response to a question, the interior minister said police registered 70,666 cases of robbery and 14,056 cases of dacoity across the country during this period.

Some 9,062 cases of dacoity, 55,227 of robbery, 98,494 of theft and nine cases of suicide attacks were registered in Punjab, he added.

Similarly in Sindh 4,690 cases of dacoity, 13,581 cases of robbery, 7,784 of theft and three cases of suicide attacks were registered during the last three years.

Meanwhile, 218 cases of dacoity, 1,039 of robbery, 6,278 of theft and 97 cases of suicide attacks were registered in Khyber-Pakhtunkhwa. The Minister said that in Balochistan seven suicide attacks occurred during the last three years.

While robbery and dacoity may sound synonymous, the Pakistan Penal Code differentiates them thus: robbery is broadly explained as taking away someone’s property under eminent fear of death or injury, while five or more persons commiting a robbery is a dacoity.

Senators Zahid Khan of Awami National Party and Col (retd) Tahir Mashhadi said the interior ministry had not responded to most of the queries. On their concerns, Senate Chairman Nayyar Bokhari deferred the questions related to interior ministry for the next Rota-day.

No orders to ban Indian channels

Minister for Information and Broadcasting Qamar Zaman Kaira informed the Senate that the Pakistan Electronic Media Regulatory Authority has not received any orders from the Supreme Court regarding banning of the licensing of Indian Satellite TV channels.

Replying to a question in the Upper House, he said it is true that some content of Indian channels being aired by private TV channels does not correspond to Islamic principles and values but same is the case of some content even on international news channels. He said the house should hold debate on defining a code of conduct for airing of foreign content on TV channels. He said no ban on the licensing of Indian channels has been imposed.

Information Minister said a private TV channel was showing foreign culture programmes by dubbing these into Urdu. The channel was served notice but it has taken the matter to Supreme Court where it is subjudice. He said if the court orders to take action against the said channel, we will revoke its landing rights.

Communications

The House was also informed that Pakistan International Airlines has not sent any aircraft abroad for refurbishment. Minister of State for Defence Sardar Saleem Haider Khan said that PIA has 38 aircraft, of which the maintenance work on 12 is being carried out in Karachi.

To a question, Minister for Railways Ghulam Ahmad Bilour informed the House that Pakistan Railways Advisory and Consultancy Services has completed over 250 projects pertaining to mechanical, civil, electrical and signal engineering disciplines. He said its members are appointed by Chairman Railways.