KARACHI: Condemning a recent statement of the Karachi police chief in which he termed Karachiites as their “own enemy”, the Muttahida Qaumi Movement-Pakistan on Sunday expressed concerns over an alarming rise in street crimes in the city and demanded special courts to hold speedy trial of street criminals.

The party also asked the provincial government to give arm licences to the citizens amid growing insecurity and deteriorating law and order situation.

Karachi police chief Additional Inspector General of Police Javed Odho while speaking at a programme organised by the Karachi Chamber of Commerce and Industry had rejected reports of an increase in street crime cases in the city and alleged that the business community first spread sensation and then lamented that no one was investing in the city.

He was of the view that there was more crime in Lahore and other cities, but the people of Karachi were kicking themselves in the gut.

Rejects collection of MUCT through electricity bills

Speaking at a press conference at the party’s temporary headquarters in Bahadurabad, senior MQM-P leader Khawaja Izharul Hassan said it seemed that muggers and robbers had been granted licence to loot people of Karachi with complete impunity.

Describing the police chief’s assertions as a political statement, he said: “With this statement, you have given a clean chit to all criminals in Karachi,” These are not the words of a police officer. It sounds like a political statement. The people of Karachi are left at the mercy of criminals after the chief of law enforcement agency is found in a state of denial,” he said.

“We believe that it’s time to move with resolve against the menace of street crimes instead of living in a state of denial,” said Khawaja Izhar. “There should be courts like ATCs to prosecute the suspects of street crimes, as killing of innocent citizens by snatchers just for the sake of their cell phones worth Rs10,000 should not be categorised as an ordinary crime.”

Accompanied by other leaders, Khawaja Izhar demanded: “We also want arms licences for the people of Karachi who want to acquire for their personal security.”

Collection of MUCT via KE bills rejected

Commenting on the Sindh government and K-Electric’s decision to charge people of Karachi the municipal utility charges and taxes (MUCT) through electricity bills, he questioned as to why a similar amount was not levied to the people of Sukkur or Larkana and other parts of the province.

He warned that people of Karachi would stop paying electricity bill if MUCT was forcibly collected by the KE.

He said that the MQM-P rejected collection of MUCT through power bills and demanded that this decision be withdrawn forthwith.

Published in Dawn, September 19th, 2022