They expressed deep concern and worries over the sudden rise in incidents pertaining to law and order situation in Karachi where people are being looted, banks are being robbed, policemen are being targeted, vehicles are being snatched or stolen, and tortured bodies are found from different localities from time to time. They alerted that any negligence and delays in strictly dealing with the said incidents would have a severe impact on the already ailing economy which struggles hard to stay afloat.
Citing the Karachi Operation initiated in September 2013, they said that the business and industrial community was fairly convinced that around 70 percent of law and order situation had improved since commencement of Karachi operation but the sudden upsurge in law and order incidents nowadays posed a question mark on achievements of the Karachi Operation and on the tall claims made in this regard.
They said that keeping in view the recent incidents, the business and industrial community of Karachi fear that all the achievements of Karachi Operation were at stake and if timely action was not taken, the situation might deteriorate further, once again plunging this city into the serious lawlessness and terrorism.
Teli and Firpo said that although many tall claims were made soon after the Karachi Operation began to show signs of improvements and everyone wanted to take all the credit for these achievements but the current upsurge in crimes demanded an explanation. They urged the Sindh Chief Minister, Home Minister, DG Rangers, IGP Sindh and Additional IGP to come up with a clear explanation and publicize the reasons behind the current unusual rise in law and order incidents in Karachi.
They said that people are fearlessly being looted at gunpoint at some of the busiest streets of Karachi in broad day light, particularly during traffic jams. They said that these incidents became the gravest when the culprits involved in street crimes, target killings and robberies easily flee the crime scene without getting noticed.
At least 100 locations have been identified and marked as unsafe by law enforcement agencies including Tipu Sultan Road, Shaheed-e-Millat Road, Habib Bank Chowrangi Site Flyover, Old Sabzi Mandi, Gulshan-e-Iqbal 13-D, Essa Nagri, areas adjacent to Gulshan Chowrangi/Nipa and many other key localities where street crimes are frequently taking place almost everyday but no measure has been taken to deal with criminals who carry out their activities in these areas, particularly during traffic jams. They said that they had been urging the traffic authorities to ensure smooth flow of traffic but unfortunately, no attention was being paid to deal with frequent traffic jams at almost all the streets where commuters are deprived of cash and valuables.
Teli and Firpo further pointed out that the incidents pertaining to stealing or snatching vehicles, cash and other valuables were also being reported from the Bakra Mandi situated at the Super Highway which requires strict action as activities at the Bakra Mandi, where thousands of people throng daily, are in full swing due to forthcoming religious festival of Eid-ul-Azha.
Copyright Business Recorder, 2017