At least 49 people died in mugging incidents in the metropolis during February taking the tally to 99 for the first two months of 2023. According to statistics released by the Citizens Police Liaison Committee (CPLC), a total of 178 vehicles, 4,380 motorbikes, and 2,255 mobile phones were snatched or stolen in February, Out of the 178 automobiles, 163 were stolen and 15 were snatched. Similarly, of the 4,380 bikes, 326 were snatched and 4,054 were stolen. The data showed that 2,255 mobile phones worth millions of rupees were stolen from citizens in street crimes.

The spiraling crime rate and the insecurity felt by citizens have been discussed multiple times in the provincial legislature while high-ranking officials continue to claim that they are improving law and order. However, it hasn t resulted in any improvement with bandits and streets criminal brazenly committing crime. The provincial police department has come under criticism for its alleged involvement in crime or patronage of criminal elements. The station house office (SHO) of Quaidabad police station was recently fired for holding a citizen in his custody after another SHO allegedly kidnapped him. Officials of another police station had been arrested in connection with the abduction a car showroom owner.

Credit: Independent News Pakistan-INP