Home dept’s four-month report claims drastic decline in crime rate

The Sindh government on Wednesday received from its home department a report on the overall law and order situation in the province during the period of the caretaker administration from August 14 to December 18, 2023.

The home department claimed that the performance of the police and Rangers led to a drastic decline in the rate of crime. Officials said the report was submitted to interim home and prison minister Brig. (retd) Haris Nawaz.

According to the report, 932 encounters were held during the actions taken by the police against crime, while 458 gangs were busted, 101 dacoits were killed and 6,458 other criminals were arrested.

Two highway robbers, 11 kidnappers, 5,373 proclaimed offenders and 10,344 absconders were also arrested. Police recovered nine G-3 rifles, 59 submachine guns and Kalashnikov rifles, 161 shotguns and repeating rifles, 40 other rifles, 2,866 pistols and revolvers, nine grenades and 28,403 rounds of ammunition.

Narcotics

During the crackdown against drug peddlers, 3,657 raids were conducted, 4,317 FIRs were registered and 5,203 suspects were arrested. Police recovered 43.725kg of ice, 92.573kg of heroin, 4,110.868kg of hashish and 184,998 litres of liquor. Police also took action against smugglers and hoarders, conducting 784 operations. They registered 181 FIRs and arrested 229 suspects. The following items were seized: 388,989 bags of sugar, 139,333 bags of urea and fertiliser, 477,191 litres of diesel, 23,134 litres of petrol and 278,040 litres of edible oil.

Electricity

During actions taken against theft of electricity, 3,821 operations were conducted, 9,173 connections were disconnected and faulty meters seized, 3,044 FIRs were registered, 5,590 suspects were arrested for their involvement and 349 other suspects were arrested. Bail was granted to 1,421 of them: 1,235 pre-arrest and 186 post-arrest.

The performance report revealed that under a comprehensive repatriation plan of Sindh Home department 42,536 illegal foreigners (including 42,369 undocumented Afghan immigrant) have already been repatriated since October 1st, 2023.

The repatriation of illegal foreigners is being carried out in a smooth and coordinated manner, reads the report, saying that the drive is being carried out in a soft manner so that the dignity of illegal foreigners may not be humiliated.

Water

The home department’s performance report also highlighted the performance of the Rangers with reference to the special task assigned to them for conducting special operations against illegal activities in the province from September 15, 2023.

Ninety-two operations against water theft and 204 against illegal water hydrants were carried out, 162 people were arrested and 90 water bowsers were seized, resulting in saving 25mgd of water.

As for illegal connections, 139 operations were conducted against those stealing sweet water from the main supply line, 137 illegal connections were exposed that were used for commercial and domestic use, and 52 illegal water connections with subsoil bores were exposed, then handed over to the Karachi Water & Sewerage Corporation.

Smuggling

Police and Customs conducted targeted operations against the storage of non-Custom paid goods and smuggled petroleum, oil and lubricants (POL), seizing goods and POL worth Rs3.63 billion.

The report also underlined the effects of anti-smuggling and anti-hoarding operations of the Rangers with the following remarks: according to Customs, seizures of non-Custom paid goods have increased by 570 per cent, in comparison with the previous year, due to joint operations with the Rangers.

Since investors in Balochistan are reluctant to invest in smuggled goods, the price of sugar in the market has stopped. Moreover, the smuggling of Iranian POL has been grossly reduced. The report also stated that the Safe City Project costs have been brought down by almost Rs7 billion after making hectic and deliberate efforts.

In the Safe City Board meeting held on December 11, 2023, it was decided in principle to start the first phase of the project as soon as possible in the light of the recommendations of the technical and financial committee to negotiate with the National Radio & Telecommunication Corporation.