The absence of a neighbourhood watch and ward system and community policing has led to a sharp increase in street crime in Multan, Muzaffargarh, Bahawalpur and other areas. Surprisingly, snatching of handbags from women, cell phones and motorbikes has increased in the streets of Multan even in the safest areas.
Earlier, Multan was being considered one of the safest cities of Pakistan after Islamabad but now criminals have focused on the city areas. More than a dozen mobile phones, cash, motorcycles and purse are being snatched daily but police avoid instituting the cases to escape the inquiries.
According to some residents, the police had yet to register a number of cases. When the station house officers (SHOs) are asked about the delay in registration of cases, they plea that the inquiry officers concerned had to verify the incidents prior to registering the cases. Even cases reported to 15 are not registered.
Mohammad Hanif Khokhar, a resident of Ameerabad said that thieves stole his water-pump from the home. Another citizen was deprived of cash and cell phone in a city street.
He had reported the incident to the area police station but irony is that the area police denied the occurrence of any such incident in their limits.
In the sub-urban areas, outlaws often block traffic at night by placing tree trunks on the roads and then snatch vehicles, motorbikes and other valuables. Nasir Abbas Zaidi, a resident of Wilayatabad said that criminals had snatched his motorcycle on Khanewal road.