Police help citizens recover stolen cars

As many as 32 four-wheelers and 24 two-wheelers handed to their real owners

KARACHI: "I had lost all hope that I will ever get my car back," said Sajid Ashraf whose car was stolen at gunpoint from North Karachi. His car was returned to him by the police on Friday.

This is the second time in three months that his Toyota Corolla was stolen from the same area. "I am lucky that I lost my car twice and both the times the police recovered my car," he said.

Several people received their vehicles in a ceremony held by Anti-Car Lifting Cell (ACLC) on Friday. "We have recovered many vehicles which were stolen from Karachi but today (Friday) in a first phase, we have handed at least 32 four-wheelers and about 24 two-wheelers to their real owners," said ACLC chief SSP Irfan Bahadur, while talking to The Express Tribune.



"It is a proud moment for us that we are returning the happiness back to these people. It will definitely keep the morale of the police high," he said.

In other similar cases, there are several people who have recovered their stolen vehicles. Muhammad Rashid, employed by a private firm, also lost his Toyota XLI from North Nazimabad.

"The men snatched my car on gunpoint about one-and-a-half-year-ago," he said. "I could not believe when I received a phone call from police informing me about the recovery of my car," he added.

The people who were returned their stolen vehicles had a very positive stance regarding police and they stressed the need for citizens to trust police officials.

"At least we should file a complaint to the police in such cases," said Syed Muhammad Faisal, who recovered his Daihatsu. "A majority of people do not file a complaint to the police believing that they will not be of any help," he said. "I would have never gotten my vehicle back if I, too, thought like other people."

Agha Junaid is another citizen who found his car. His Corolla was snatched from Gulberg about six months ago. "I am really grateful that the police helped me in the recovery of my car," he said. "I was amazed as my car was in the same condition it was before being snatched," he added.

The vehicles were handed over to the people by the newly appointed AIG Mushtaq Mahar."We are trying our level best to stop such incidents in near future," he said.

While talking to the media, he said that the operation will continue. "Most of the hardened criminals, target killers have gone underground or fled the country, therefore, we will focus on targeted raids and operations," he said.

Published in The Express Tribune, July 25^th, 2015.