With a rise in extortion and kidnapping cases, people are being compelled to leave their cities and move to safer parts of the country. DESIGN: JAMAL KHURSHID
In a recent order, the Peshawar High Court (PHC) directed the provincial police to constitute a team of police experts to curb the growing incidents of extortion and kidnapping in the city. If implemented, the development could serve as a viable solution to resolve issues that have marred the security situation in the city.
During a bail application hearing on December 13, filed by a retired police officer, PHC Chief Justice Dost Muhammad Khan stated the court will not allow Peshawar to become “the second Karachi”. The retired officer, Ashiq Rehman, was accused of attempting to extort a trader for Rs150 million.
“Before this court is constrained to order criminal negligence charges against provincial and federal governments, immediate action must be taken against highly deplorable criminal business,” read the court order.
The court order further decreed both Khyber-Pakhtunkhwa and federal governments along with secret agencies should have a clear understanding that such criminal activity will not be tolerated in this province and particularly in Peshawar.
With a rise in extortion and kidnapping cases, people are being compelled to leave their cities and move to safer parts of the country. The public also harbours very high hopes that the Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf-led government’s police department will bring about a positive change in the current law and order situation.
However, the situation in Peshawar is getting worse day by day. Security breaches are pummelling the city’s economy, and skilled people and professionals are migrating.
While a serious threat of extortion and kidnapping exists for all citizens, doctors in particular remain a prime target. The most recent target was known rheumatologist Dr Amjid Taqweem.
Taqweem was kidnapped from his residence in Hayatabad and recovered from Khyber Agency where he was kept in captivity for three weeks. It is still not known how much ransom the abductors were paid to release the doctor, but it is common knowledge that people like Taqweem draw huge amounts in ransom.
The kidnapping of Taqweem has escalated the row between the government and doctors. The latter demand more security and, in protest, boycotted public and private sector medical facilities to push for their right to security.
It seems one consequence of the protests was the government’s decision to provide licences for non-prohibited weapons to doctors to loan a sense of security. The government also increased security in Hayatabad – one of the areas they were picked up from.
But providing security to doctors is not a solution to curb security breaches and will not help convey a sense of safety. The government must strengthen their intelligence network in the city so criminals can be identified before they approach their targets.
Security needs to be tightened at all check posts on exit and entry points of the city so all those entering and exiting the city can be identified. Communication networks need to be improved so the police response time is improved for intervention during incidents.
It is high time police officials find solutions; solutions in which the public could be taken into confidence and can cooperate with the department to think of better ways to curb the crime rate.
One major aspect of not being able to convict criminals is weak prosecution and investigation, both of which need to be improved. Experts, residents and those from other parts of the country, must be provided sufficient training and equipment so arrested criminals can be convicted.
Published in The Express Tribune, December 27th, 2013.
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