KARACHI: Perturbed at an alarming surge in street crime and failure of police in effectively dealing with the menace, the Muttahida Qaumi Movement-Pakistan on Thursday asked the Supreme Court to take suo motu notice of the situation to provide justice and security to Karachiites.

The party also expressed a lack of trust at what it called “non-local” police force and appealed to traders, businessman, industrialists and people of Karachi to take their own security measures, assuring them that the MQM-P will stand with them.

Speaking at a press conference at the party’s temporary headquarters in Bahadurabad, MQM-P convener Dr Khalid Maqbool Siddiqui said that the city’s law and order situation had been worsening with each passing day as criminal elements were operating with complete impunity.

He said that so far over 300 citizens of Karachi had been killed by armed robbers over resistance. “Unfortunately, the provincial and federal governments have nothing to do with maintenance of peace and order in this city. We believe the Supreme Court should take suo motu notice of the situation.”

PSP, MWM also demand immediate action to curb menace

Dr Siddiqui said the people of Karachi have been paying water bill without getting any piped water. He said that power tariff for Karachi was higher compared to other parts of the country yet people are suffering the menace of loadshedding during day and night times.

He said that the city badly needed unity among people from all walks of life including doctors, engineers and other professionals.

“Today, I request all people as well as all political forces to launch a new struggle,” he said.

Slams police torture against businessman, son

The party also condemned the police torture against innocent people who protested against local administration and Karachi Water and Sewerage Board a couple of days back for giving a connection to a private hospital in North Nazimabad.

Speaking on the occasion, senior leader Amir Khan said that the police picked up a businessman and his teenage son over protesting against the water connection and subjected them to brutal torture.

“MQM-Pakistan strongly condemns the police torture and demands that the authorities immediately suspend all those policemen involved in the torture and initiate legal action against them,” he said.

PSP, MWM voice concern over street crime

The Pak Sarzameen Party (PSP) and Majlis Wahdat-i-Muslimeen (MWM) have expressed their serious concern over the rising incidents of street crime and killings in the city.

In a statement, Aasia Ishaque of the PSP said that innocent citizens had been left at the mercy of muggers and killers.

She asked the government and police authorities to take immediate action before it’s too late.

Allama Sadiq Jaffery, the Karachi president of the MWM, said in a statement that the surge in street crimes left a question mark over the performance of law enforcement agencies.

He said that the MWM would lodge a strong protest if serious action against criminals was not taken.

Published in Dawn, September 9th, 2022