Quick response: Shaheen Force to combat street crime

Shaheen Force will use 50 specifically modified motorcycles to patrol various areas that fall under South zone.

KARACHI:

District South police have launched an anti-street crime force, the Shaheen Force, to make South zone more secure by effectively combatting street crime. The force was officially launched at a ceremony held at Sea-View on Thursday.

Shaheen Force personnel will use 50 specifically modified motorcycles to patrol various areas that fall under South zone. These motorcycles are equipped with wireless radio sets and sirens to enable the personnel to respond to emergencies as soon as possible. The force will be responsible to curb street crime, respond to emergency calls and facilitate the public when needed.

“We are proud to introduce the Shaheen Force which will be tasked with combatting street crime,” said South police chief DIG Khalique Shaikh. “We want to make South zone secure and peaceful.”

The patrolling beats and areas that will be covered by the force range from Mai Kolachi to Schon Circle, Bilawal Chowrangi to Ziauddin Chowrangi, Teen Talwar to Sub-Marine Chowrangi, Zamzama to Ideal Bakery via Zamzama Park, Shahbaz Commercial, Khayaban-e-Shujahat to Khayaban-e-Sehar intersection, 26th Street to KFC, Sehar Commercial intersection, 9/10 Commercial, Sub-Marine Chowrangi to Saudi Consulate, Punjab Chowrangi to Aga Khan Signal, A Market to Baitul Islam Masjid, Qayyumabad Chowrangi to Friends CNG.

In September last year, a special anti-street crime force, the Hyder Force, was established to combat street crime. Around 30 Hyder Force police officials on 15 motorcycles patrolled vulnerable areas of Defence Housing Authority (DHA), Clifton, Mehmoodabad and Baloch Colony. Their aim was to capture street criminals and muggers who had multiplied in large numbers in the affluent localities. The Hyder Force has not, however, been active since the last few months. DIG Shaikh said that Hyder Force was initiated by the then Clifton SP Sarfaraz Nawaz. “We have merged the Hyder force with the Shaheen Force and will enhance the manpower soon,” he explained. “Such special forces are also being launched in other districts of the city.” He said that the force will coordinate with the police stations and police helpline 15 to ensure quick response to emergencies.

The force has been established with support from the Defence Residents Society. “There was no decrease in the street crime despite the ongoing Karachi operation,” DRS Additional General Secretary Khurram Rehman told The Express Tribune. “We will also provide financial support to the force.”

Published in The Express Tribune, June 13^th, 2014.