Karachi Tops in Crimes in Sindh

By Nasir Aijaz

Courtesy PPI, a file photo

Karachi, Sindh, Pakistan: The crime rate shot up in Sindh, mainly in Karachi, during 2010 as 100,278 crimes of different nature were reported from January 01 to December 31 last year across the province as compared to 90,562 in 2009 showing an increase of 9,716 crimes.

The increase registered mainly in Karachi, as 58,746 crimes were reported here in 2010 as compared to 49,469 in 2009 showing an increase of 9,277 while 21,838 crimes were reported in Hyderabad region in 2010 as compared to 22,541during 2009 showing a decline of 703. In Sukkur region, the number of crimes during 2010 was 19,694 as compared to 19,958 in 2009 with slight increase of 264, according to official statistics.

The data shows that 1,482 murder cases were reported during the year under report as compared to 1,083 in 2009 in Karachi showing an increase of 399 while in Hyderabad region, 724 murder cases were reported in 2010 and 579 in 2009 with an increase of 145 and in Sukkur region, there was an increase of only 11 as 1,083 murder cases were registered during 2010 as compared to 1072 in 2009. These figures show that 3,289 murder cases took place across the province in 2010 as compared to 2,734 in 2009 showing an increase of 555.

Attempt to murder cases also registered increase as 4,125 such cases took place in Sindh during 2010 as compared to 3,874 in 2009 showing an increase of 251. In Karachi 1,250 cases were registered in 2010 and 1,034 in 2009 with increase of 216. In Hyderabad region number of such cases in 2010 was 1,701 and 1,637 in 2009 with an increase of 64 while in Sukkur region attempt to murder cases declined by 29 as 1,174 cases were registered in 2010 compared to 1,203 in 2009. 

Hyderabad, Sindh: Market Tower (taken from internet)

According to data, kidnapping for ransom cases declined by 23 in the province as 175 kidnappings took place in 2010 and 198 in 2009. The Karachi however topped as 76 kidnapping for ransom cases registered in 2010 compared to 73 in 2009 with slight increase of three cases. In Hyderabad, the kidnappings declined from 28 of 2009 to 23 in 2010 and in Sukkur too it declined from 97 of 2009 to 76 in 2010.

The official statistics show decline of 18 cases of dacoity in Sindh as 1,809 such cases reported in 2010 and 1,827 in 2009. The Sukkur region topped in dacoity cases despite a decline as 845 incidents were reported in 2010 and 1,009 in 2009 showing decrease of 164 cases. Hyderabad region ranked second with 580 dacoities in 2010 and 479 in 2009 with an increase of 101. The dacoities increased in Karachi by 45 where 384 cases were reported in 2010 and 339 in 2009.

Karachi ranked first in robberies as 3,145 such cases were registered in 2010 compared to 3,070 in 2009 showing increase of 75 cases. In Hyderabad region, the robberies increased by 149 from 776 in 2009 to 925 in 2010. Sukkur region registered increase of 06 cases from 581 of 2009 to 587 in 2010. The overall increase in robberies in Sindh was 230 from 4,427 in 2009 to 4,657 in 2010. 

Indus River, Sukkur

Karachi again topped in car snatching/theft cases despite claimed decline of 124 cases. The report says that a total of 2,073 vehicles were stolen/snatched (1,419 stolen, 654 snatched) in 2010 compared to 2,197 (1,533 stolen, 664 snatched) in 2009 in Karachi. Such cases increased by 27 in Hyderabad region as 310 (175 stolen, 135 snatch) in 2010 compared to 283 (179 stolen, 104 snatched) in 2009. These cases declined by 15 in Sukkur region as 194 (94 stolen, 100 snatched) in 2010 compared to 209 (112 stolen, 97 snatched) in 2009. A total of 2,577 cases of four-wheelers (1,688 stolen, 889 snatched) took place in 2010 and 2,689 (1,824 stolen, 865 snatched) in 2009 showing decline of 112.

There was a big jump of 1,151 cases in bike snatching/theft across the province as 8,362 (5,799 theft, 2,563 snatching) cases were reported in 2010 and 7,211 (4,895 theft, 2,316 snatching) cases in 2009. Karachi topped with increase of 915 cases as a total of 6,925 (5,221 theft, 1,704 snatching) incidents took place in 2010 compared to 6,010 (4,406 theft, 1,604 snatching) in 2009. Hyderabad region registered increase of 148 cases from 630 (theft 344, snatching 286) in 2009 to 778 (theft 393, snatching 385) in 2010. There was also an increase of 88 cases in Sukkur region where 659 (185 theft, 474 snatching) cases registered in 2010 compared to 571 (145 theft, 426 snatching) in 2009.