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Tuesday March 19, 2024

IGP told to reply to plea seeking action against street crime

By Our Correspondent
February 22, 2018

The Sindh High Court (SHC) on Wednesday directed the provincial police chief and home secretary among others to file their comments on a petition seeking orders for the government and law enforcement agencies (LEAs) to take action to control the rampant street crime in Karachi.

Petitioner Muzammil Mumtaz said in his petition that street crime has been increasing across the city, and citizens are being deprived of their valuables. He said muggers are targeting citizens without appearing on the radar screen of police and other LEAs.

He said that several persons have lost their lives or been injured while resisting mugging attempts, but the LEAs have failed to protect the citizens.

He pointed out that many incidents have been reported in District East, especially in the Landhi and Korangi areas, but action taken by the police so far is not satisfactory.

He accused the investigation agencies of performing their duties dishonestly, saying that police investigation officers do not bother to investigate street crime. He referred to the Supreme Court’s Karachi law and order case in which the top court directed the LEAs to take action against street criminals and gangsters.

He requested that the court direct the LEAs to take action against muggers and protect the citizens. He also asked the court to direct the deputy inspectors general (DIGs) to summon the record of street crime that has taken place in their respective jurisdictions.

The federal law officer told the court that mobile phone companies should be made respondents in the petition because, he said, in many cases mobile phones are used in street crime.

Rangers filed their comments on the petition, saying that the paramilitary force has been conducting targeted operations against terrorists because of which law and order has been restored in the city.

The security agency’s counsel submitted that Rangers were taking action against street criminals and several of them have been arrested and handed over to police for further action.

The counsel said the paramilitary officials would continue their operation against criminals in accordance with the powers provided to them. The court directed the provincial police chief and home secretary, the DIGs of all the districts of the city and others to file their respective comments on the petition by March 27.

Muggings are common in Karachi, where citizens are routinely deprived of cash and valuables, including mobile phones and jewellery, at gunpoint. Putting up resistance often results in death.

Detention cases

The SHC has issued notices to the federal and provincial law officers to file their respective comments on petitions filed against the detention of citizens allegedly by personnel of the LEAs.

Petitioner Saleem Baloch said police picked up his sons Mohammad Nadeem and Shakeel Ahmed from Manghopir on November 20 and their whereabouts are still unknown.

He said the police are neither disclosing his son’s whereabouts nor providing any details of the cases against them. He requested the SHC to direct the police to produce the detainees in court and release them if they are not required in any cases.

The court was informed that Nadeem has returned home but Shakeel is still missing. The court directed the police to submit a report on the whereabouts of Shakeel and adjourned the hearing.

The court also issued notices to the provincial and federal law enforcers on petitions against the detention of citizens allegedly by personnel of the LEAs.

The petitioners told the court that Amir Ali, Mohammad Saleem, Bilal and Khaliqur Rehman were picked up from Malir, Orangi Town, New Karachi and Korangi respectively, and their whereabouts are hitherto unknown.