As there is no let up in the rise in crime rate in the federal capital, the Prime Minister's Office has sought an explanation from the inspector general of police (IGP) about the failure of the ICT police to curb crime.

A reliable source told Business Recorder that the Prime Minister's Office sought explanation from IGP Islamabad Aamir Zulfiqar Khan over increase in crime rate during the last few months.

"Following analysis of [the rise] crime, the Prime Minister's Office has directly sought explanation from the IGP," he said. The source said that the main reason behind seeking an explanation from the IGP was increase in incidents of snatching at gunpoint, house robberies, and car thefts in the capital city.

When this correspondent tried to contact the IGP through his operator for seeking his comments regarding the Prime Minister's Office's explanation about increase in crime rate, he did not attend the call.

The increase in crime can be judged from the fact that just last Saturday over two armed robbers snatched cash from a person after he had just withdrawn it from an ATM in I-8 Markaz.

When the person from whom the armed robbers had snatched cash raised hue and cry, the police personnel patrolling in the area reached there and chased the robbers.

The robbers opened fire and police fire back, and tried to follow them on motorbike. Later, they tried to stop a vehicle. When the driver of the car did not stop, they opened fire at them injuring four people and killing one.

Robbers tired to stop another vehicle but the driver removed the key and tried to run away. The robber fired at him and killed him, while a robber was also injured in the cross fire who and later died.

Later it was revealed that the robber who died during the cross fire was a member of the Counter Terrorism Force (CTF).

During another incident, armed robbers broke into the house of Shafiqur Rehman in the limits of Golra Police Station and looted gold ornament worth Rs600,000.

In another incident, four unidentified persons broke into the house of Zerghon Ayub in the limits of the same police station and looted cash and gold ornaments worth Rs280,000 during the last week of February, 2020.

In the same month, some robbers stole a laptop, a mobile phone and gold ornaments worth Rs100,000 from the house of Muhammad Viqas in the limits of Sabzi Mandi Police Station.

On February 1, some unidentified armed robbers entered into a medical store in I-10 Markaz, held the staff and client hostage at gunpoint and looted a large amount of cash.

They escaped from the scene after resorting to firing in the air.

Medical store owner Fakhar Raza lodged a complaint with the Sabzi Mandi Police Station along with the video footage of the incident.

Similarly, a few months ago, a group of armed robbers snatched jewelry and cash from a couple at gunpoint in I-10 in early morning as soon as they arrived at their residence from the airport.

The armed robbers also opened fire at the crime scene and managed to escape.

The victim lodged a complaint with the Sabzi Mandi Police Station but the police have yet to arrest the culprits.

Such incidents occur on a daily basis especially in the city's posh and developed sectors.