An increase in the crime rate has been recorded in the country and in Karachi alone it went up by 17 percent in 2004 as compared to the previous year. This was disclosed in a recent report by the Human Rights Commission of Pakistan (HRCP) on the 'State of Human Rights' in the country. In Karachi, around 5,223 vehicles and motorbikes were stolen in six months, out of which 1,849 were four-wheelers. In the Sindh province, the crimes increased where 1,823 murder, 1,823 kidnapping and 221 rape cases were recorded of which 658 murder, 503 kidnapping and 66 rape cases were reported in Karachi.

The report stated the snatching of cars and motorbikes, as reported, has increased in Lahore too. The statistics for January to November showed 122 cars, 218 motorbikes, 44 other vehicles were snatched at gunpoint, while 916 cars, 1,861 motorbikes and 220 other vehicles were stolen.

According to the report, Lahore city police claimed to have arrested 10,544 proclaimed offenders who were wanted in murder, 856 attempt to murder, and 253 dacoity and robbery cases.

The report further stated that in urban Lahore, 533 murder, 886 attempt to murder, 102 dacoity and 1,341 robbery cases, whereas 178 vehicles and 1,043 cars stealing, 16 police encounters, 156 kidnapping of children, 26 kidnapping for ransom, 900 abduction, 60 rape and 133 illicit relation cases were reported.

Crime rate also increased in Islamabad, figures of heinous crimes were 34.7 per cent higher in 2004 than previous year, the report added.

Use of firearms and explosives clearly demonstrated the failure of government to recover illicit arms.

In 2004, Karachi police claimed to have recovered 76 Kalashnikov rifles, eight light machine guns, 2,108 pistols, 172 revolvers, 30 hand grenades and 22 bombs, the report said.

The Lahore city police, according to HRCP report, claimed to have arrested 9,259 persons for possessing illegal weapons and recovered rifles, 577 guns, 2,236 revolvers, 5188 pistols, 236 carbines, 170 mausers, 26 Kalashnikov rifles and 69 hand grenades from them.

The data for Punjab and Sindh, which accounted for high percentage of crimes, showed a marked increase in incidents of kidnapping. Punjab reported 6,000 cases of kidnapping till October 2004 as against 5,382 in 2003.

In Sindh 1,062 cases of kidnapping were reported as compared to 992 in 2003 and 881 in 2002.

The Punjab police reported 134 encounters during first nine months of the year in which 105 suspects were killed. The Karachi City police reported the killing of 57 criminals and 19 policeman in encounters, the report added.

According to "Lawyers for the Rights and Legal Aid" (LHRLA) the number of women who suffered physical abuse across the country during first eight months of 2004, was put at 2,367, almost 10 women a day, and 940 women were murdered.

Copyright Business Recorder, 2005