Karachi has seen a surge in street crime this year, with more than 65,000 incidents reported by November, according to official data.
The city witnessed 105 fatalities and 375 injuries as robbers opened fire on citizens resisting the robberies.
The citizens of the port city reported the highest number of vehicle-related thefts, with 47,874 vehicles and motorcycles stolen or snatched, which includes 7,605 motorcycles snatched and 38,394 stolen, while 247 cars were snatched and 1,628 stolen.
Additionally, 17,952 mobile phones were reported snatched across the city.
The highest number of street crime cases was reported in January, with 7,822 incidents, while November recorded the lowest at 4,879 cases.
Authorities acknowledge the alarming trend and promise enhanced efforts to curb street crimes.
However, the consistent rise in such incidents continues to raise concerns about citizens’ safety and effective law enforcement.
A day earlier, in a move to curb the street crimes, Karachi Police Chief Javed Alam Odho revealed that over 1,000 police encounters have occurred in Karachi over the past ten months.
Addressing concerns during a bike distribution ceremony for women police officers at the Karachi Police Office, Odho assured the public of a thorough investigation into allegations of fake encounters.
“Reports confirm these encounters were genuine, with no evidence of fabrication. However, due to concerns, we’ve appointed SSP South as the inquiry officer to thoroughly investigate the matter,” he said.
He encouraged media representatives to present credible evidence if they believe any incidents were staged, promising strict legal action against any proven misconduct.
Source: Daily Jang
