KARACHI: Pasban Democratic Party (PDP) Chairman Altaf Shakoor has strongly criticized the Sindh government and law enforcement agencies for their failure to curb the worsening crime situation in Karachi, particularly the sharp increase in car snatching incidents that has left citizens feeling unsafe across the city.
In a statement issued on Sunday, Shakoor said armed gangs were operating with growing confidence, striking both day and night while police and Rangers appeared unable to prevent them. “Bandits roam freely across the city, looting citizens without fear of law,” he said, adding that despite the deployment of paramilitary forces, there has been no visible improvement in public safety.
The PDP leader identified broken roads and unlit streets as major enablers of crime. He said that motorists are forced to slow down in these areas, turning them into “favourite hunting points” for vehicle and motorcycle thieves. “The condition of University Road alone is a nightmare for motorists and heaven for snatchers,” he remarked.
Calling the existing patrol system “inefficient and ineffective,” Shakoor said both the police and Rangers have failed to build public trust, leaving Karachi residents vulnerable. He alleged that the Sindh home department had become a hub of corruption and incompetence, focused more on collecting illicit funds than maintaining law and order.
“The so-called system government in Sindh has completely failed in governance. Corrupt and inefficient officers continue to occupy top positions because they serve their political masters well,” Shakoor said. He claimed that police stations operate “like mafias,” where ordinary citizens feel intimidated to even file complaints.
Shakoor called for an immediate restructuring of the Sindh home department and police, urging the provincial government to appoint honest and professional officers to senior roles. He also proposed the introduction of community policing and an expansion of visible street patrols to rebuild public confidence.
To address the crisis, the PDP chairman recommended the modernization of police stations, including online FIR registration, and emphasized the urgent need to revive the long-delayed Safe City project. “The promised network of surveillance cameras must finally be installed if the government is serious about protecting its citizens,” he stressed.
Shakoor concluded by demanding that all damaged roads be repaired and proper streetlights installed to ensure public safety, reiterating that lawlessness and poor governance cannot continue to define Karachi’s future.
