KARACHI: Rising street crimes in Karachi are impossible without police acting as accomplices, exposing the PPP government’s alleged failure in Sindh to rein in criminals from Karachi to Kashmore, according to MQM-P leader Faisal Subzwari, who also questions why the federal government isn’t taking notice of the alarming situation.
“No action is being taken against armed gangs and dacoits in Kashmore, or against street crime in Karachi,” Subzwari stated at a news conference with other party officials.
He asked Interior Minister Mohsin Naqvi to visit the city and summon Sindh Chief Minister Murad Ali Shah.
Regretting that nothing is being done to combat the alarming surge in street crime in the port city, he stated that the majority of the offenders were eventually discovered to be police officers, condemning the PPP administration for the deaths of scores of people during robberies.
Subzwari chastised the Sindh home minister for his remarks in which he criticized the media for disproportionate coverage of crimes in Karachi. He must talk only after appropriate consideration; otherwise, staying mute was the best alternative.
The MQM-P leader explained how it was conceivable that the police did not receive a portion from the criminals who stole mobile phones from civilians when they had received money from individuals participating in the unlawful trade of Iranian oil and items intended for Afghan transit.
Subzwari declared that they will organize neighbourhood groups to monitor unlawful activities and criminal elements. He pointed out that the provincial administration had failed badly in protecting people’s lives and property.
“Is it possible that police checkpoints are not present at all entry and exit points to the city?” Of course, they are. Is it possible that the city’s stolen phone market operates without the police’s patronage?” he inquired.
He said that cell phones worth billions of rupees are stolen in the city each year. He questioned if it was conceivable to assume that the cops were not involved.
Turning his sights on Sindh Home Minister Ziaul Hassan Lanjar, he stated that the minister should change his “attitude” and “open his eyes and ears before opening his mouth”.
In a recent news conference, Lanjar stated that the law and order situation in Karachi was much better than it had been in previous years, and that a “hype” had been built around the issue of street violence in the city.
“If you don’t value Karachiites’ lives and property, we certainly do. We will ask you questions both inside and outside the [Sindh] Assembly.
“You have a heavy responsibility, but you are not the coordinator of a political person.” You are not simply a member of the Sindh Assembly. Subzwari remarked, “You are the home minister of the entire province.”
He stated that if Lanjar was uninformed of the situation, then Sindh Chief Minister Murad Ali Shah should be aware. “Summon law enforcement agencies, form a system,” he went on to say.
The law and order situation has deteriorated not only in Karachi, but throughout the province, he noted, referring specifically to the dacoits roaming freely in the Katcha area along the Indus River in upper Sindh.
Subzwari further stated that mobile phones and bicycles abducted or stolen in Karachi were not “airlifted” to other areas of the nation. He stated that the commodities were moved by road and questioned how and why the police were unable to confiscate them.
He asked the chief judge of the Sindh High Court (SHC) to take note of the lawlessness. He went on to say that street crime was a “industry” and encouraged the SHC chief judge to take the case to court. “Call all institutions and ask what is happening, how it is happening and who is making it happen,” he went on to say.
MQM-P leader Khawaja Izharul Hassan stated that the party is always raising its voice over the situation in Karachi. Concerning the selection of the Sindh inspector general, he said that the provincial administration “blackmailed” the PML-N in order to pick someone of their choice.
He asked the chief judge of the Sindh High Court (SHC) to take note of the lawlessness. He went on to say that street crime was a “industry” and encouraged the SHC chief judge to take the case to court. “Call all institutions and ask what is happening, how it is happening and who is making it happen,” he went on to say.
MQM-P leader Khawaja Izharul Hassan stated that the party is always raising its voice over the situation in Karachi. Concerning the selection of the Sindh inspector general, he said that the provincial administration “blackmailed” the PML-N in order to pick someone of their choice.
“They [dacoits] have been given the licence to kill after the appointment of the Sindh IG, the home minister and the chief minister,” he went on to say. “People are angry and are resisting now — they are not scared, they are fighting with the dacoits and losing their lives,” he went on to say.
‘MQM-P is helping criminals by making police contentious.’
Sindh Home Minister Lanjar responded to the MQM-P news conference by declaring that restoring peace and order in the province was the provincial government’s top priority.
In a statement, he stated that the PPP was working to eradicate dacoits from the province and that the government trusted police and law enforcement authorities.
He said that police officers had also given their lives to restore calm in the province. He said that the MQM-P helped criminals by making the police force “controversial”.
Lanjar stated that the Sindh police chief had a “good reputation” and that all institutions were committed to restoring calm in the province.
“The MQM should note that the thieves and robbers have no ethnicity, they are only robbers in our eyes,” he added, adding that the government will deal with those who endanger the lives of innocent individuals.
Maria Ghanchi