Sindh Inspector General of Police (IGP) Riffat Mukhtar emphasized the ongoing efforts to address street crimes in urban areas, particularly Karachi, and curb lawlessness in the Katcha areas of Kashmore, Shikarpur, Ghotki, and Sukkur. During a presentation to participants of the PN Staff Course at Pakistan Navy War College, the IGP highlighted these issues as chronic challenges and outlined the measures being taken by the police to tackle them.
The IGP acknowledged street crime in urban areas, specifically mobile phone and cash snatching, vehicle theft or snatching, house robberies, murders, and extortion, as major concerns. Despite fluctuations in the rate of street crime, he characterized it as a chronic urban issue and stated that the police are actively patrolling and conducting targeted operations to control the situation.
In the Katcha areas, the IGP identified four major heads of crime, including kidnapping for ransom through honey trapping and forced kidnapping, highway robberies, tribal feuds, and smuggling. He reported that in 2023, 261 persons were kidnapped in these areas, but all abducted persons have been freed from the clutches of dacoits.
Addressing the security preparations for the upcoming general elections, the IGP assured that the police department is fully prepared to provide security. He highlighted the successful control of terrorism through intelligence-based targeted operations in the past.
Chief Secretary Dr. Fakhre Alam suggested reforming the criminal justice system, particularly concerning urban street crime. He emphasized the importance of projects like the Karachi Safe City Project and enhancing the technical capacity of the police to effectively resolve these issues.
The meeting, held at the Chief Minister’s House, was attended by Caretaker Chief Minister Justice (retd) Maqbool Baqar, provincial ministers, and other officials. The war course delegation from Pakistan Navy War College was led by Commandant Rear Admiral Azhar Mehmood. The collaborative efforts and strategies discussed in the meeting reflect the commitment to addressing and overcoming security challenges in both urban and rural areas of Sindh.
