Crime: rising with impunity

"Crime and bad lives are the measure of a States failure": though these words were penned by Herbert G. Wells in his novel, "A Modern Utopia", more than a hundred years back, still they read like a social commentary on the current state of affairs in Pakistan. Sticking to the cliché that Karachi is a mini Pakistan, a look at crime statistics from the metropolis highlights some disturbing trends. That crime is on the rise is a painfully obvious reality that all residents of the city grapple with on a daily basis. Data maintained by the Citizens Police Liaison Committee (CPLC) shows that the number reported cases of snatching or theft of two wheelers had tallied at 6,138, back in 2002. CPLC reported that 1,878 of these vehicles were eventually recovered. Fast forward to 2011 and it appears that the mushroom growth in sales of motorcycles in the country has been accompanied by a huge surge in thefts of motorbikes as well which has more than tripled to 18,906 cases. Here comes the shocker; the number of cases where recovery of the stolen vehicle was reported only improved marginally by comparison to 2,802. Put differently, the recovery rate in cases pertaining to two-wheeler theft or snatching had averaged over 36 percent between 2001 and 2006; but dropped under 20 percent on average between 2007 and 2011. And this horrendous reality cannot be shut out by simply rolling up the windows of a luxury car. Car theft and snatchings have displayed a rising trend, while recovery rates have headed south over the same period. But, perhaps the most alarming trends emerge in statistics relating to kidnappings in the city. CPLC deserves commendation for solving almost 100 percent of kidnapping cases referred to it. However, law enforcers are clearly having a tougher time apprehending gangs involved in this heinous crime, as compared to early 2000s. Between 2003 and 2006, the number of kidnappings per year averaged about 35 cases; while on an average 10 gangs were apprehended each year. Between 2007 and 2011, the average number of kidnappings has tripled to over 93 cases per year, while the average number of gangs caught has barely doubled to 19. Moreover, the number of cases reported as a proportion of total crimes committed is also on a steady decline, given the general lack of confidence in the abilities and intentions of law enforcement agencies. In a recent meeting with BR Research, the president of an association which represents many prominent businesses in the city revealed that there are at least 25 "live kidnapping cases in Karachi where the victims are still being held by their captors". Anecdotal accounts of the horrors suffered by acquaintances are also all the buzz in drawing room discussions and anonymous text messages, the frequency of which rises each time political tensions grip the city. Consider the example of last summer. On a particularly brutal day in July 2011, as many as 25 persons became victims of targeted killings. The spate of violence had closely followed a war of words between members of two parties from the coalition government. As processions of different sects took to the streets towards the end of 2011, sectarian violence increased just as political nerves seemed to be calming. Though the city is at relative peace at the movement; the unwavering consensus among citizens seems to be that the run up to the general elections may spill into the streets in the form of violence in coming months. Recently, a large group of labourers from the citys SITE industrial area approached religious scholars at Jamia Binoria for a fatwa to legalise theft and robbery. The petitioners argued that minimum wage of Rs.7,000 per month are not enough to support a family given the high inflation rates and in the absence of any prospects of hefty pay raises, these workers should be allowed to utilise any means necessary to ensure the survival of their families. Although the scholars at the renowned religious establishment did not entertain this request; the mere fact that such petitions are knocking the doors of seminaries shows a general lack of trust in the governments ability to provide security to citizens and to ensure any shred of justice and equitability. It is said that deprivation leads to crime and revolution. The former is already manifesting not just in Karachi but the country as a whole. It is in the interest of all branches of the government to improve law and order, before cries of "bloody revolution" become too loud to ignore.