Citizens can now register complaints — even against cops

Citizens can now directly lodge complaints against cops with the provincial police chief on the newly-inaugurated helpline service, 9110, that would function alongside the complaint centre operational at the Central Police Office (CPO).

Speaking at the inaugural ceremony of the ‘Sindh IG Helpline 9110’ on Thursday, IGP A D Khowaja said the purpose of the helpline was to serve the public and to address their grievances on a priority basis.

Khowaja said the helpline was connected with all divisions of the provincial police. He vowed to personally follow and monitor complaints of a serious nature.  The IGP, however, also clarified that the helpline was only for complaints and requested citizens to report emergency cases on the existing police helpline, 15. 

“The 9110 helpline is for citizens to register complaints against any SHO who may be refusing to register an FIR, an investigation officer for not following the case properly, policemen keeping someone in illegal detention, demanding bribes or deliberately delaying legal work, any official who may be booking a law-abiding citizen in a fake case or any officer lodging fake cases intentionally,” said IGP Khowaja.

Sharing salient features of the newly inaugurated service, the police chief said calls would be recorded for a better understanding of the case. Khowaja said the city population had exceeded 200 million, with 60 percent area of the megalopolis comprising informal settlements. Combating street crimes in a city like Karachi, even after induction of more fleet, is still an uphill task, he added.

He remarked that there was a need of improvement in the judicial system to make the war against crimes successful. The IGP stressed that citizens belonging to all walks of life should cooperate with the police to combat crimes in the society. The inaugural ceremony was also attended by AIG Special Branch Dr Waliullah Dal and other senior officials.  

Home minister

Speaking at a passing out parade on Thursday, the provincial home minister hailed the sacrifices rendered by police officers for the restoration of law and order in Sindh.

“Our police officers have set great examples of bravery, courage and commitment. It is due to their selfless service and dedication that the status of the Sindh police force is much better today than in the past,” said Suhail Siyal.

The home minister added that fresh recruits were being added every year to bolster the provincial police force. He also expressed gratitude to the country’s intelligence agencies and the Sindh Rangers for collaborating with the police for effective elimination of crime.

‘Quick Response Force’

A ‘Quick Response Force’ has been constituted to help curb the recent surge in street crimes and bank robberies in the city’s District East.

The force comprises 100 police personnel who have been provided 45 motorcycles and vehicles to patrol vulnerable areas, said Karachi East SSP Irfan Baloch. The metropolis has seen a rise in incidents of bank heists and street crimes over the past few months. 

With three banks robbed this month alone, a total of eight banks have been looted so far this year, and only one heist was foiled back in April. Five bank-related muggings have been committed since July 18, according to a report in The News.

On July 18, a man was deprived of Rs950,000 on Tariq Road on his way back from his office after withdrawing the cash from a bank. During the same month, a gang of robbers looted Rs1.3 million from a filling station’s employee on his way to a bank.

This month, a group of robbers snatched Rs100,000 from a man when he returned to his showroom after withdrawing the money from a bank. Two similar muggings were reported soon after. A man was deprived of Rs200,000 near Godam Chowrangi in Korangi on his way back home from a bank, while a bag full of cash was snatched from an intending pilgrim on Dalmia Road on his way back from a bank. Earlier this month, law enforcers met to discuss and devise strategies to tackle the muggings, after acknowledging that street crime had emerged as a top security issue in the city.