Islamabad Police are working hard to make the capital a crime-free city; however, as many as 2112 FIRs have been registered so far in 2017, while the police arrested 1878 criminals and recovered valuables of Rs 135 million in first four months including 113 snatched cars, 31 motorbikes, gold ornaments and foreign currency.
In first five days of May, the police registered 129 more cases with the average of 25 cases per day. Curiously, the day when SSP operations said that crime rate was decreasing, 28 cases of different crimes have been registered in various police stations of capital.
According to the official data, shared with Pakistan Today, Islamabad Police registered 506 cases in January, 458 cases in February, 582 cases in March and 566 cases in April – increasing every month. As two dozen FIRs are being registered with the Islamabad Police on daily basis and more than 150 FIRs weekly on account of heinous crimes such as murder, robbery, fraud, vehicle snatching/theft, abduction and kidnapping for ransom cases. This situation raises many questions over the tall claims made by the Islamabad Police in a press conference on Saturday.
In April alone, Bhara Kahu Police Station led with the registration of 50 cases in April, 46 with Koral PS, 25 with Shalimar PS, 42 with Industrial Area I-9 PS, 10 with Shamas Colony PS, 27 with Khana PS, 41 with Lohibher PS, 34 with Kohsar PS, 15 with Secretariat PS, 21 with Tarnool PS, 29 with Ramna PS, 40 with Sabzi Mandi PS, 18 with Shehzad Town PS, 26 with Nilor PS, 25 with Sihala PS, 20 with Margalla PS, 22 with Goldra PS, 13 with Bani Galla PS, 23 with Karachi Company PS, 21 with Aabpara PS and 17 with Noon PS.
Operations Senior Superintendent Police (SSP) Sajid Kiyani briefed the press and claimed that Islamabad Police were better than the police of Washington DC.
He said that 672,228 was the population of Washington and there were some 4200 police personnel, even then 23, 293 (6,368 in district first, 5,823 in district second, 6,025 in district third, and 5,077 in district four) cases have been registered in four districts in 2015 alone which was much higher than the cases registered in capital which have only 3200 police personnel.
Addressing a press conference on Saturday here at CIA Wing, SSP Sajid Kiyani said that Islamabad Police was striving hard to ensure relief to citizens, and owing to such efforts it got remarkable success against criminal elements during the current year. All Zonal SPs, SDPOS, DSP CIA, notables of the city were also present on the occasion.
Following directions from Minister for Interior Nisar Khan, the SSP said that effective steps were taken within available resources to abolish crime and elaborate security in the city.
Highlighting the performance of Islamabad Police, he said that 188 criminals were arrested in 99 dacoity cases and valuables around Rs. 7 million were recovered from them. A total of 233 persons were held for being involved in burglary and theft incidents and looted items worth more than Rs 40 million were recovered from them.
The SSP said that significant decrease has been witnessed in various crime incidents during 2017 as corresponding period of 2016. He said that crime rate in Islamabad is very much less as compared to cities of developed countries and appealed to appreciate police over their good performance.
The stolen cars of more than Rs 80.6 million were recovered from 77 accused in 133 cases while 23 motorcycle thieves were held besides recovery of more than 31 motorbikes from them. The SSP said that organised crime of car theft is no more in the city.
A remarkable success was achieved against those possessing illegal weapons and 40 Kalashnikovs/rifles, 28 carbines, 190 pistols, 1782 rounds and seven daggers were recovered from 261 nabbed persons. SSP Islamabad said that 281 drug pushers/bootleggers were arrested and 79.671 kilogramme hashish, 12.318 kilogramme heroin, 380 gram opium and 3184 wine bottles were recovered from them.
Islamabad police, he said, traced eight blind murder cases and nabbed 10 assassins while cases were registered against 77 persons under Foreigner Act.
Kiyani said that special campaign was launched against alm-seekers following directions of Minister for Interior Ch Nisar Ali Khan and 813 beggars were held, 488 were sent to Edhi Home and 325 were challaned by courts.
During the ongoing year, SSP (Operations) said that Islamabad police conducted 92 search operations in the city and recovered huge cache of weapons, narcotics and other items from the suspects nabbed during this exercise.
In a bid to curb the menace of drug supply in educational institutions, 20 narcotics dealers were held for their involvement in this ugly business and more than 12 kilogramme hashish, 380 gramme opium, 650-gramme heroin and tranquillising pills were recovered from them.
The SSP informed the participants that 3442 proclaimed offender have been arrested since April 1, 2016 while 71 gambles and 37 persons involved in aerial firing were held. Two persons were held during the ongoing year having 22-kilogramme explosive material while eight extortionists were also held. Four persons were held for having fake currency while 48 persons were arrested for their involvement in immoral activities.
Highlighting more success stories of Islamabad Police, he said that a gang of seven kidnappers demanding Rs 50 million as ransom from Syed Akbar Khan was busted; two dacoits involved in snatching a purse from Canadian Senator Salma Atta Ullah Jan having $ 4200, Rs. 62,000 and other valuables were held; a gang involved in ransacking houses after thrashing women physically was busted besides recovery of gold ornaments from them.
He said that killer of Chakwal police official ASI Muhammad Akhtar was arrested while criminals involved in looting house of Chinese national in Sabzi Mandi police station area were also held.
The SSP said that Anti-Car Lifting Cell (ACLC) of Islamabad police nabbed several car thieves including 10 car receivers from Khyber Pakhtunkhwa, Azad Kashmir and recovered 18 vehicles from them.
Later, Kiyani handed over the keys of recovered cars, bikes and gold ornaments as well cash to their owners who appreciated the efforts of Islamabad police. They also thanked police officials and jawans who worked hard for recovery of their valuables. SSP Islamabad also announced cash prizes and commendation certificates for police officials showing good performance.
SSP Islamabad said that computerised checking system affiliated with ‘Safe City’ has been started in the city and 980 places are checked within 24 hours. He said that Islamabad police is a committed force and efforts will continue to ensure protection to the lives, as well as property, of the citizens.
It can be said that making the capital a crime-free city remains a dream for Interior Minister Ch Nisar Ali Khan.
When asked by this scribe to share the number of vehicles stolen from the capital in the last two years along with cars yet to be traced rescued and recovered, he did not respond.