Police solved 77% cases of murders during robberies in 2024

The year 2024 appears to have been good for the Sindh police, with improvements observed in the department as regards investigations and information technology, owing to which they succeeded in solving major terrorism cases, including the attack on Chinese nationals near the Karachi airport.

Soon after the current provincial police chief had taken charge, he started upgrading the department along modern lines, and equipping it with an IT-based mechanism.

IG Ghulam Nabi Memon also took up the Karachi Safe City project, which had remained buried in files since long. He held several meetings, and finally managed to complete much of the project this year with the help of the provincial government.

The cameras installed in Karachi under the project now cover the red zones, the South Range, and Sharea Faisal until the airport. Half of the metropolis is likely to be covered by June 2025, with the aim to cover the remaining city by the end of next year.

A recent kidnapping case, in which a man was abducted from DHA, was also solved within a few hours with the help of the project, as the cameras helped track the kidnappers’ vehicle, enabling the police to rescue the victim safely and kill two kidnappers in a shoot-out.

Another major initiative was the launch of the Talaash app, which includes complete data of criminals, including absconders and proclaimed offenders, so the police can now verify a person’s details on the spot with just a thumb impression on the app.

Moreover, with the Hotel Eye app the police now have complete data of hotels running across the province, and also the data of security and industrial guards deployed for duty. The Counter Terrorism Department and the Special Branch were also digitised this year, while they were equipped with modern gadgets and weapons. The IG also resolve the long-standing issue of the investigation branch, which used to be much weaker.

He restructured the whole department, with a functional human resource department, provided funds for its development and day-to-day work, and appointed devoted officers to investigate murder and street crime cases.

The Crime Scene Unit was also introduced across the province. With the help of the provincial government, the basic pay of the police was increased. The investigation cost was also increased. Evidence collection units were established, and separate rooms were set up for holding identification parades.

Due to such developments, the conviction rate reached 24 per cent this year, with the prosecutor general appreciating the performance of the investigation wing of the Sindh police. Compared to other provinces, Sindh’s conviction rate this year is the highest.

Another initiative of the provincial government was to provide funds of around Rs6 billion directly to police stations in a transparent manner, following which the performance of the police stations improved.

The Point Me app was also introduced this year to ensure police attendance. To ensure the presence of police officials at checking spots and to record their conversations while on duty, body-worn cameras were introduced.

The health insurance policy for Sindh police officials and their families was raised to Rs5 billion, and now they can receive treatment at any hospital under it.

The martyrs budget was also increased by the government from Rs10 million to between Rs23 million and Rs70 million, according to the rank of the martyrs.

Decline in crimes

According to official data, crimes in Sindh decreased by 20 per cent this year. While some major incidents took place, including the attack on Chinese nationals, such terrorism cases were solved in a few days.

A gradual decline was also observed in street crime in Karachi. Around 77 per cent of the cases of murders during robberies were solved this year: 98 such cases, in which 104 people were killed, were reported, and the police solved 75 of the cases, killing 33 suspects and arresting 112 others.

Over 70 per cent of the cases of injuries during robberies were also solved: 321 such cases, in which 397 people were injured, were reported, and the police solved 226 of the cases, killing 36 suspects and arresting 332 others.

A total of 1,778 murders were reported in the province this year; 2,526 attempted murders, including injuries during snatching bids; 126 Karo-Kari cases; and 3,278 riots cases.

Moreover, 4,082 cases of assault on police and 969 cases of assault on public were reported, while 129 kidnapping for ransom cases were reported, with almost all the cases being solved.

This year 64 highway robberies were reported in the province, one bank heist, 18 filling station robberies, 362 house robberies, 338 shop robberies, 1,522 car theft and snatching cases, and 16,539 motorbike theft and snatching cases. Around 530 people were also killed in road traffic accidents this year, and 328 were injured.

The Sindh police conducted 3,856 encounters this year, arrested 7,383 people red-handed and busted 1,782 gangs, killing 341 suspects, with overall around 21,000 suspects being arrested. Five notified dacoits were also killed this year, and eight were arrested, while two highway robbers were killed and 26 were arrested. Police also seized eight light machine guns; 14 G-3 rifles; four MP-Vs; 180 Kalashnikovs; 433 shotguns and repeaters; 9,400 pistols, revolvers and mausers; 42 hand grenades and 78,700 bullets of different calibres.

Kutcha area progress

After IG Memon took charge, he started working on the long-standing issue of Kutcha area bandits. He devised a strategy in consultation with the Sindh government, and launched an operation against the criminals looting, kidnapping and murdering people.

The Kutcha area bandits evolved their modus operandi, with a significant shift toward honey-trapping people from across Pakistan. Kidnappings were largely reactive, targeting the poor locals to exert pressure on the police.

The criminal networks in the Kutcha areas spanning Sindh’s Shikarpur, Kashmore and Ghotki, and even Punjab are highly interconnected, and they collaborate to facilitate their activities. However, the Sindh police have brought the situation under control with continuous efforts in collaboration with other law-enforcement agencies.

This year 547 encounters took place with the Kutcha area bandits in Sukkur, Ghotki, Kashmore and Shikarpur, where 72 criminals were killed, 121 were arrested with injuries and 372 were arrested unharmed.

Police also seized 430 weapons of different calibres, and saved 601 people from honeytraps. During these encounters 15 policemen were martyred and 31 were injured. This year 274 kidnapping for ransom cases were also reported in the Kutcha areas. With their continuous operations and investigations, police solved 260 of the cases.