Pasban Democratic Party (PDP) Chairman Altaf Shakoor on Sunday assailed the provincial government and law enforcement agencies for their failure to control a surge in criminal activity, particularly car snatching, which he stated has plunged the megacity into a heightened state of insecurity.
Shakoor asserted that armed bandits are operating with alarming boldness, committing crimes in broad daylight as well as during the night, while the police appear powerless to stop them. He pointed out that despite the deployment of a large number of Rangers, the situation on the ground remains unchanged.
The PDP leader identified dilapidated infrastructure as a major contributing factor, noting that numerous broken roads and unlit streets force motorists to reduce their speed. These locations, he claimed, have become “favourite hunting points” for vehicle and motorcycle lifters.
He described the patrolling efforts of both police and Rangers in the city as “inefficient and ineffective,” which has fostered a significant sense of insecurity among citizens whenever they are outdoors.
In a scathing critique, Shakoor accused the Sindh home department of gross incompetence, alleging its performance is only laudable in “grabbing bribery and collecting bad money for its political masters.” He argued that the so-called “system government” in Sindh has utterly failed in providing good governance.
The chairman claimed that notoriously corrupt and inefficient officers continue to enjoy senior posts because they effectively collect illicit funds for their superiors. He further characterized police stations as being run in a “mafia style,” where the common person feels intimidated to even enter.
Shakoor demanded a major shakeup within the Sindh home department and the provincial police, urging for the appointment of honest and professional individuals to senior roles. He also called for the promotion of community policing, alongside better and more visible patrols on the streets.
To tackle the crisis, he proposed the modernization of police stations with facilities for lodging online FIRs and the immediate revival of the lingering Safe City project, stressing that the promised surveillance cameras must be installed.
He concluded with an urgent call for the repair of all damaged roads, highlighting the ruined University Road as a “nightmare for motorists and heaven for vehicle snatchers,” and demanded the installation of proper streetlights to improve safety.