Two workers of Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) were injured on Thursday in a robbery attempt near Nazimabad, Karachi, after resisting street criminals. The incident underscores the growing concerns over the safety and security of citizens in the metropolis.
The victims, identified as Anis and Ameer Hamza, both associated with PTI’s Central District, were shot during the robbery. They were immediately transferred to Ziauddin Hospital for treatment, where they are currently receiving medical care.
The incident has sparked outrage among PTI leaders and supporters. Upon hearing of the attack, PTI Sindh President Haleem Adil Sheikh, accompanied by Karachi President Raja Azhar and General Secretary Arsalan Khalid, rushed to the hospital, bringing with them hundreds of party workers to show solidarity with the injured.
Speaking to the media outside the hospital, Haleem Adil Sheikh launched a scathing attack on the Sindh government, accusing it of failing to protect Karachi’s youth from escalating violence.
“Our two workers have been injured during this robbery. The government has taken on the responsibility of allowing the targeted killings of Karachi’s youth,” Sheikh declared, visibly angered by the incident.
Sheikh went on to allege that for months, young people in Karachi have been systematically targeted and killed, with little to no resistance from the police. He questioned the role of Sindh’s leadership, asking, “Has the Chief Minister and the Inspector General of Sindh given these criminals a ‘licence to kill’?”
The PTI leader also expressed frustration over the inadequate medical facilities at Abbasi Shaheed Hospital, which forced the injured workers to be transferred to a private hospital for better treatment.
“The lack of proper medical care at government hospitals is yet another example of the Sindh government’s neglect. Our workers deserve better, and so do the people of Karachi,” Sheikh added.
This incident is not an isolated one; Karachi has seen a disturbing rise in street crimes, with residents increasingly feeling unsafe in their own city. Just weeks earlier, on July 26, gunfire erupted in the upscale commercial area of Khayaban-e-Nishat in Defence Phase V, leaving five people dead.
The police reported that the deadly clash involved two factions of the Bugti tribe, who arrived in the area in pickup trucks. Among the injured were Mir Ali Haider Bugti and Qaim Ali. Tragically, one of the deceased was identified as the grandson of Nawabzada Akbar Bugti, the late chief of the Bugti tribe.
These incidents highlight the volatile security situation in Karachi, where citizens are often caught in the crossfire of criminal activities and tribal disputes. The frequency of such events has led to growing frustration and fear among the city’s residents, who feel abandoned by those responsible for their safety.
The attack on PTI workers has added fuel to the already charged political atmosphere in Sindh. PTI leaders have used the incident to draw attention to what they describe as the Sindh government’s incompetence and apathy towards the safety of Karachi’s residents.
The criticism from PTI leadership is likely to further strain relations between the provincial government and opposition parties, with law and order expected to become a central issue in the upcoming political discourse.
As Karachi grapples with rising crime rates and political tensions, the city’s residents continue to demand action from their leaders, hoping for a day when they can live without fear of violence or crime.
