KARACHI: The Sindh Bureau of Statistics report on law and order underscores a decline in crime incidents across divisions such as Hyderabad, Larkana, Mirpurkhas, and Shaheed Benazirabad, while an alarming surge in criminal activities has been observed in Karachi.
The final report of compiled data till December 2022 shows that staggering 67 per cent of crimes within Sindh are concentrated in Karachi, where an astonishing 121 per cent increase in criminal incidents has been recorded over the past six years, starting from 2016.
Despite substantial investments made by the Sindh government in law enforcement, including recruitment of personnel and equipping the police with modern weaponry, Karachi has transformed into a hub for criminal elements. The city leads all other districts in Sindh regarding reported crimes, accounting for 67.5% of the total reported incidents in the province. Car thefts and snatchings have become rampant in the city, with incidents skyrocketing from 3,858 to an astounding 30,580 over six years.
The Sindh Statistics Report for 2022 reveals a notable increase in crime incidents across the province over two years. In 2020, a total of 99,316 crimes were reported in Sindh, with 60,331 occurring in Karachi.
The subsequent year, 2021, witnessed 119,545 reported crimes across Sindh, of which 81,164 occurred in Karachi. However, during this same timeframe, other divisions, such as Hyderabad, Larkana, Mirpurkhas, and Shaheed Benazirabad, experienced a reduction in criminal activities. Mirpur Khas Division emerged as the safest city in Sindh, reporting 3,569 crimes in 2020 and 3,283 crimes in 2021.
The data points to a concerning influx of criminal elements into Karachi. Over the past six years, crime rates in the city have surged by an alarming 121 percent. In 2016, Karachi reported 36,670 crimes, a number that has surged by 121 per cent to reach 81,164 in 2021. Alongside the rise in car thefts and snatchings, other criminal activities such as theft, robbery, kidnapping, child abduction, suicide, and rape have also witnessed significant increases during this period.
In 2021, Karachi documented 5,563 cases of robbery and 1,841 cases of theft. The city also witnessed 2,883 reported instances of kidnapping, along with 75 cases of suicide and attempted suicide. Furthermore, these criminal activities resulted in the loss of 493 lives. Additionally, 601 attempted murder cases were reported, along with 185 cases of rape. Violations of the Arms Ordinance accounted for 5,797 registered cases.
Published in The Express Tribune, August 19th, 2023.