Street crime: a part of life

It is now a free for all in Karachi as far as looters and criminal gangs are concerned. The slightest hint of resistance is enough to get one killed. This has been going on for years but there has been a sharp increase in banditry recent years. More than 3000 street crimes were reported and eight people killed in the first 15 days of Ramazan alone. Tragic scenes on TV screens of women and men wailing for their loved ones killed in cold blood at the hands of muggers moves no one in the government. Most disappointing was the statement of the incumbent Sindh home minister, dismissing the rampant crime as a “part of daily life”. If the police are unable to control crime, then why not consider another large-scale operation, of the kind seen in years past. Sadly, it seems that no one at the top is moved by Karachi’s crime problem as they are too busy getting all they can out of a minority government.

Malik ul Quddoos

Karachi