Karachi police blunders: ‘Most wanted’ suspect escapes custody

KARACHI: In a turn of events that could only be described as ‘farcical episode’ in the ongoing saga of law enforcement in Pakistan, a ‘most wanted’ suspect managed to slip through the fingers of the Karachi police.

The suspect had reportedly been brought in from Punjab. He made a daring escape from what was supposed to be ‘secure’ police custody, leading to a chorus of mockery directed at the Sindh police’s apparent negligence.

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According to the SP Investigation, the suspect was housed in a house guest house rather than a proper detention facility, raising eyebrows and questions about the level of security afforded to accused with multiple criminal cases against them.

The negligence of the Karachi Police officers involved has been acknowledged, with the SIO Gizri being suspended and removed from his post.

The removal, however,  does little to assuage the public’s concerns about the systematic issues plaguing the law enforcement departments in the country.

The inquiry into this debacle was handed over to the DSP Investigation–Clifton, a move that seems more like a game of musical chairs than a serious attempt to address the underlying problems.

Karachi police’s track record has been less than stellar, with a history of corruption and incompetence that has left citizens questioning their safety.

Statistics paint a grim picture of the overall performance of the police in Pakistan. According to the Pakistan Bureau of Statistics, the crime rate in the country has seen a steady increase over the years, with reported incidents of violent crime rising by 15 per cent from 2019 to 2020 alone.

Sindh in particular has been a hotspot for criminal activity, with Karachi alone being labelled as one of most dangerous cities in the world.

A report by the United Nations Office on Drugs and Crime (UNODC) highlighted that Pakistan has one of the highest rates of violent crimes in South Asia.

The police force’s corruption is also well-documented. Transparency International Corruption Perceptions Index has consistently ranked Pakistan among the most corrupt countries globally, with law enforcement agencies often cited as the most corrupt institutions.

A survey conducted by the International Republican Institute found that 63 per cent of citizens in Pakistan believe that the police are corrupt, with many reluctant to report crimes due to fear of bribery and misconduct.

The escape of the latest suspect is not an isolated incident but rather a symptom of a much larger problem within the province and the broader law enforcement framework in the country.

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As the inquiry takes place and the dust settles on the latest embarrassment, one can only wonder how many more such incidents will occur before meaningful reforms are implemented.