Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) Karachi Division General Secretary, Arsalan Khalid, today voiced serious concern over the rise in street crimes and civic issues gripping the city.

With Eid-ul-Fitr approaching, incidents of robbery and looting have reached an alarming level, he said while shared statistical data indicating that during the past three months, more than 12,000 street crime cases have been documented in Karachi. These incidents resulted in the deaths of over 18 citizens and left more than 50 injured during robberies. He highlighted that thousands of mobile phones, vehicles, and motorcycles have been snatched, with criminals operating without fear despite police presence.

Questioning police effectiveness, Khalid accused law enforcement of prioritizing extortion collection from drug dealers and serving political interests over public safety. He criticized the Sindh government for neglecting Karachi’s residents, asserting that the police have completely failed in crime control.

Khalid referenced a recent incident where dacoits in Korangi No. 6 fatally shot a 21-year-old shopkeeper, Sohaib, during a robbery. He expressed concern over Karachi’s deteriorating conditions, with citizens facing shortages of water, electricity, and gas, in addition to rising street crimes.

He also criticized the city’s infrastructure, pointing out the poor condition of roads and delays in the completion of the BRT Red Line project, which has been pending for three years. Khalid mentioned that University Road remains dug up, causing inconvenience to residents.

Blaming the Pakistan Peoples Party for the city’s decline, Khalid argued that both the Sindh government and Karachi’s mayor are indifferent to public suffering due to a lack of genuine mandate. He announced PTI’s plan to initiate a mass movement with citizens after Eid to tackle Karachi’s challenges, positioning the party as the voice of the city’s residents.