EDITORIAL: The recent statistics depicting the overwhelming rise in street crimes in Karachi come as little surprise given that battling the perennially precarious law and order situation in the city has been the lived reality for its long-suffering residents for far too long now. As data presented before a high-level security meeting shows, nearly 300 Karachiites were shot dead by street criminals between 2022 and 2024.
It is pertinent to note that before 2022, the number of people killed during mugging incidents stood at around 30. This figure then saw a sharp increase in 2022 when a total of 111 such incidents were reported, with the same trend persisting in 2023 when 108 people were killed during robberies. The advent of 2024, according to official figures, has already witnessed the killings of over 35 people during mugging incidents, although data by independent institutions puts this figure at over 50.
The factors contributing to such a steep surge in criminal activities are well documented, with economic hardships, soaring inflation and few employment opportunities having made mere survival a tall order for far too many. The tough economic conditions are then further exacerbated by a lack of effective policing.
The law enforcement apparatus in the city has long been plagued by issues related to corruption within the police force, basic incompetence, poor training, and a lack of adequate resources and manpower, making tackling crime effectively a challenging endeavour.
Another disappointing aspect has been the attitude of those with the power to effect change, with the remarks by Sindh Home Minister Ziaul Hasan Lanjar last week putting into sharp focus the lackadaisical approach of the provincial government. His entirely bizarre statement that crime “is a matter of daily life”, and his assertion that the law and order situation in Karachi had been exaggerated by the local media only raises fears that the provincial government remains apathetic to the crisis at hand.
At the very least, one would expect our public representatives to display some sensitivity and empathy for the plight of citizens in the face of a crime wave that has seen the loss of too many innocent lives, and has caused considerable harm to business and economy of the city.
It is little wonder then that we have a situation where citizens have lost trust in the police and the government, and have been pushed into taking the law into their own hands, leading to a dangerous rise in cases of vigilante justice. In addition, the MQM-P (Muttahida Qaumi Movement-Pakistan) has been urging the federal government to address the issue, calling for more powers to be granted to the Rangers. Furthermore, the Sindh High Court chief justice has also intervened in the matter, directing police and Rangers to launch a crackdown on criminals.
The fact remains that without reforming the overstretched, under-resourced and poorly trained police force, all measures devised to combat crime will remain largely ineffective. The provincial and federal governments, therefore, would do well to work in close coordination and pour in the resources required to rectify the systemic issues afflicting the police force.
There is also a need to address wider societal issues like socioeconomic disparities, poverty, an inefficient justice system and a general lack of respect for the rule of law, which have created a fertile ground for criminal behaviour to flourish.
Karachi remains too important for Pakistan’s economic, cultural and social fabric for those in power to ignore the poor law and order situation afflicting the city. Addressing it remains crucial for not only the well-being of the city’s residents but also vital for the country’s economic stability and progress. Karachi’s plight must not be ignored any longer.
Copyright Business Recorder, 2024
Comments
Comments are closed.