Crime continues

Since this year began there have been at least nine major bank robberies in Karachi, four of them taking place in the last month alone. Millions of rupees have been taken away by the burglars who have struck banks in some of the busiest parts of Karachi, in some cases meters away from police stations or posts. Over the last few days, over Rs18 lakhs were taken away from two banks. In one robbery, the bank manager who attempted to halt the robbers was tragically shot. These incidents belie claims by city authorities of a dramatic improvement in law and order over the past year or so. While there may have been some decline in incidents of militancy, the law and order situation remains grim with banks and ordinary people targeted again and again. Karachi has also faced a spate of mugging. Police are clearly helpless with robbers able to hit one bank after the other and walk away with lakhs of rupees. It should be recalled that in the past militant outfits have been associated with bank robberies and other crime as a means to generate funds.

Police appear clueless despite CCTV camera footage provided by the banks and detailed eye-witness accounts. As has become the usual practice, the Sindh government and police authorities say banks should adopt better security measures. While it is true that some banks may be lacking in this, it is also the duty of the city and provincial governments to ensure security and keep institutions and people safe. Their failure to do so gives us a picture of major flaws in governance. Mere claims of an improvement in law and order cannot change the fact. The high number of hits on banks during a relatively short period of time suggests these gangs are able to strike at will. This is obviously a professionally planned series of attacks. Large amounts of money are involved, as also is the confidence of people in banks. Perhaps all law-enforcement institutions in the city need to come up with a new – and improved – plan to keep the residents of Karachi safe on the streets and their money safe in banks.