Street Crimes in Karachi:
Decline or Increase Since
Karachi Operation
By: Khurshid Marwat (IRS)
Faculty Advisor: M. Hanif Memon
National Institute of Management
Karachi
18th Senior Management Course
A Current Issue Presentation on

Disclaimer & Thanks
• There were different sets of data at multiple sources
hence making the analysis extremely difficult
• Some of the data was never compiled especially by
other provinces so educated assumptions were made in
consultation with the respective officers
• Utmost care has been taken to quote the data that has a
valid source and is most rational
• Special thanks to 18th SMC Course Participants Mr.
Saqib Ismail Memon and Mr. Parvez Ahmed Chandio for
providing some vital data regarding this presentation
3

- “Including DHA and Clifton, even in broad day light
Karachiites are no more safe in any corner of this
city”
- President KCCI Iftikhar Ahmad Vohra
- “Continuous Street Crimes have badly affected
Karachi Operation”
- CPLC Chief Zubair Habib
- “looking at the danger, policing powers of the
Rangers will hopefully stay”
- Interior Minister Chaudhry Nisar
4

Sequence
• Aim of the Presentation
• Definition & Characteristics
• Currency of the Issue
• Perception of Karachi
• Major Forms of Street
Crimes
• Reasons for Criminal
Behavior in Street Crimes
• Karachi-Operation
• Pre Karachi-Operation
Environment
• Key Objectives
• Current Environment
• Overall Summary – Rangers
Actions – Since 05 Sep,
2013 5
• Role of Police in Curbing
Street Crimes
• Analysis of street Crimes
• Four Wheelers
• Two Wheelers
• Cell Phones
• Market dynamics of Street
Crimes
• Provincial Comparisons
• Conclusions
• Possible Reasons for
Consistency
• Recommendations

Aim of The Presentation
• To establish before the audience the currency of this
burning issue of Street Crimes and after analyzing
the same, eventually draw a specific conclusion
whether Karachi Operation has effects (if any) on
this particular Genre of Crime as well as come up
with a set of recommendations for countering this
issue.
6

Definition & Characteristics
• ‘Street crime’ is any crime that takes place in a
public place like mugging, car theft, vandalism etc.
• Easiest, Oldest, Widespread
• Common Routine
 Mostly in Night
 In Deserted Places
 Victim is alone
 Most of the time Criminal is alone as well
• Karachi Specific Routine
 Mostly in Broad Day Light
 In front of Public Eye & nearby cops
 No care about victim being alone
 Predominantly more than one criminals
7

Currency of the ISSUE
8

9
Currency of the ISSUE

10
Currency of the ISSUE

This is Karachi
• Karachi is among top 10 most violent & dangerous cities in the
world*
• Every citizen of this 22 million strong city is either Directly or
Indirectly touched by a form of Street Crime**
• Range of Criminal Activities
• Target Killing, Extortion, Car/Motor Cycle/Mobile/Wallet/Other
Valuables Snatching, Robberies, Prostitution, Drugs, Pickpocketing,
Dacoities, Terrorism, & Other Petty Crimes such as vandalism etc.
• The Registered Population of Vehicles Up to September 2015
is;***
• 1,692,464 Four Wheelers (231 Per Day)
• 2,656,174 Two Wheelers (793 Per Day)
• There are Approximately 13 Million Users of Cell Phones in
Karachi ****
• Which means that almost 60% of Karachiites have Cell Phones
Source: * http://www.wonderlist.com/10-most violent-cities-in-the-world/#disqus_thread
http://www.tafrehmella.com/threads/top-10-most-dangerous-cities-of-the -world.275574
** An Interview with Sharfuddin Memon (Former Chief of CPLC)
*** Office of ACLC Karachi
**** Pakistan Telecommunication Authority
11

Major forms of Street Crimes in Karachi
• Snatching of Four Wheelers
• Snatching of Two Wheelers
• Snatching of Mobile Phones
• Snatching of other valuables
12

13
Victims
46%
Safe
54%
KARACHI STREET CRIMES
Source: Gallup Pakistan for BBC

14

Reasons for Criminal Behavior in Street
Crimes
• Thrill
• Easy Cash Inflows
• Poverty
• Unemployment
• Psychological Disorders
• Revenge
• Organized Criminal Networks
• Crime has been incentivized
• Police a part of Problem or Solution?
15

Karachi Operation
• Started on September 5, 2013
• Rangers were requisitioned under;
• Article 147 of Constitution
• Clause 1 of Sub-Section 3 of Section 4 of Anti-Terrorism Act 1997
• Mandated to prevent special types of crimes under the purview of
ATA 1997
• Terrorism – Target Killings (including supporters & Sponsors)
– Bhatta (Extortion) – Kidnapping for Ransom
• Clearly Street Crimes is out of the ambit of Karachi Operation
• As Per Rangers currently it is in Stage II since August 14, 2015
• This Operation when started was not identified to be in stages
• Apparently, the same four categories of crimes will still be focused
in Stage II then what is new in Stage II?
• Charges of Political Victimization ad Targeting of a specific Party
• And now talks of “Operation Till Logical End”
• .
16Source: * Gallup Pakistan
An Interview with Maj. Gen. Bilal Akbar, DG Rangers

589
1524
EXTORTION
2012
2013
129
173
0
50
100
150
200
2012 2013
KIDNAPPING
27
18
43
81
44
75
62
53
91
121
75
107
105 106 107
72
81
100
86
73
61
46
55
73
0
20
40
60
80
100
120
140
Jan Feb Mar Apr May Jun Jul Aug Sep Oct Nov Dec
2012 2013
TGT KILLINGTERRORISM
2012
Kille
d
Injure
d
 Bomb Blast in a Coach at Clifton Town 6 45

IED Attack on Bohri Jamat Khana at
N/Nzd
7 18
 Bomb Blast on Police APC at Malir 4 16
2013
 IED Attack at Abbas Town 40 100
 Bomb Blast in a Rickshaw at Orangi 12 39
 Bomb Explosion at ANP Office, Landhi 11 32
Pre Karachi Operation Environment
Source: An Interview with Maj. Gen. Bilal Akbar, DG Rangers

 Minimise/ eliminate militant wings of political parties
 Minimise/ eliminate target killing capacity of ethnic, sectarian and
political militants
 Minimise/ eliminate kidnapping for ransom
 Minimise/ eliminate bhatta from Karachi
 Curtail / eliminate terrorists’ liberty of action and their support
base/ network from Karachi
KEY OBJECTIVES
Source: An Interview with Maj. Gen. Bilal Akbar, DG Rangers

174
115
13
Kidnapping
2013
2014
2015
TGT KILLINGTERRORISM
2014 Kille
d
Injure
d
 Terrorists Attack on JIAP
Karachi
14 7
2015
 Safoora Incident 45 8
 Most of the Terrorists s and banned outfits
have been Neutralized
Current Environment
1524
899
249
Extortion
2013
2014
2015
KIDNAPPINGEXTORTION
84
121
75
107
98 101
90
61
81 92 80
66
50 46
55
73
62 66
57
43
50
34
42 40
44
29 29 23
51
3
13
18 17
9 12 14
0
20
40
60
80
100
120
140
Sep Oct Nov Dec Jan Feb Mar Apr May Jun Jul Aug
2012/13 2013/14 2014/15
Source: An Interview with Maj. Gen. Bilal Akbar, DG Rangers

OVERALL SUMMARY - RANGERS ACTIONS
SINCE 05 SEP 2013
20
Details
No of
Operations
Apprehended
H/O to
Police
Recoveries
Weapons Ammo.
 Operations 6097 8449 3840 6549 333759

Snap
Checking
- 2253 1316 1000 40947
Total 6097 10702* 5156 7549 374706
Source: An Interview with Maj. Gen. Bilal Akbar, DG Rangers
* http://tribune.com.pk/story/946108/karachi-operation-a-game-of-numbers/
** Gallup Pakistan Survey
• Overall Claim of 72000 arrests made under Karachi Operation *
• Which means the rest of the 62000 People were still arrested by the
same old discredited Sindh Police
• However, interestingly 71% of Karachiites are of the view that all sorts of
crimes have shown substantial decline due to Rangers Led Karachi
Operation**
• This assumption needs to be corroborated whether Karachi
Operation had any effect on Street Crimes or Not?

Role of Police in Curbing Street Crimes
• Wings Involved
• ACLC (Anti Car Lifting Cell)
• SIU (Special Investigating Unit)
• Special Branch
• Concerned Police Station
• Notably Since the start of Karachi Operation Sindh
Police has arrested 86% of the Culprits*
• 61851 Total Suspects which also includes;
• 1802 Murderers
• 879 Terrorists
• 119 Kidnappers
• 2775 Robbers
• Works in Sync with CPLC
21
Source: * http://tribune.com.pk/story/946108/karachi-operation-a-game-of-numbers/

Analysis of Street Crimes
22

Four Wheelers
23
YEAR
All Types & Makes
SNATCHED STOLEN TOTAL (No. & Loss) PER DAY
2008 1448 4255 5703 (Rs. 2.85 Billion) 15.62
2009 1323 3287 4610 (Rs. 2.31 Billion) 12.63
2010 1267 3125 4392 (Rs. 2.19 Billion) 12.03
2011 1451 3141 4592 (Rs. 2.30 Billion) 12.58
2012 1479 3705 5184 (Rs. 2.59 Billion) 14.20
2013 1121 3334 4455 (Rs. 2.23 Billion) 12.21
2014 929 2942 3871 (Rs. 1.94 Billion) 10.61
Till 11 Oct-2015 316 1406 1722 (Rs. 0.86 Billion) 6.06
Source: An Interview with Irfan Bahadur, SSP ACLC

Two Wheelers
24
YEAR
All Types & Makes
SNATCHED STOLEN TOTAL (No. & Loss) PER DAY
2008 4462 10628 15090 (Rs. 377 Million) 41.34
2009 3241 10788 14029 (Rs. 351 Million) 38.44
2010 3307 11678 14985 (Rs. 375 Million) 41.05
2011 4859 13405 18264 (Rs. 457 Million) 50.04
2012 6248 15888 22136 (Rs. 553 Million) 60.65
2013 6383 16619 23002 (Rs. 575 Million) 63.02
2014 5327 17267 22594 (Rs. 565 Million) 61.90
Till 11 Oct-2015 2872 13389 16261 (Rs. 407 Million) 57.26
Source: An Interview with Irfan Bahadur, SSP ACLC

25
4W & 2W REPORTED
VS REGISTERED CRIME
DETECTION RATE
YEAR REPORTED CRIME REGISTERED CRIME %
2013 27448 8080 29.44%
2014 26400 6115 33.48%
Oct-2015 17983 3742 20.81%
YEAR
CASES
REGISTERED
CASES DETECTED %
2013 8080 1341 16.60%
2014 6115 1285 21.01%
Oct-2015 3742 1036 27.69%
Source: An Interview with Irfan Bahadur, SSP ACLC

Cell Phones
26
YEAR
All Types & Makes
SNATCHED STOLEN TOTAL (No. & Loss) PER DAY
Oct-Dec 2013 3007 2441 5448 (Rs. 41 Million) 59.28
Jan-Mar 2014 3818 3009 6827 (Rs. 51 Million) 75.85
Apr-Jun 2014 4458 3629 8087 (Rs. 61 Million) 88.87
Jul-Sep 2014 4777 3761 8538 (Rs. 64 Million) 92.80
Oct-Dec 2014 5707 3619 9327 (Rs. 70 Million) 101.37
Jan-Mar 2015 5981 4294 10375 (Rs.78 Million ) 115.27
Apr-Jun 2015 4698 4431 9129 (Rs. 68 Million) 100.31
Jul-Sep 2015 5142 4519 9661 (Rs. 72 Million) 105.01
Sources: CPLC Data with factoring the average cost of a Cell Phone at Rs. 7500/-

Market Dynamics of Street Crimes
 For 4 Wheelers
 Most Affected Police Station is Gulshan-e-Iqbal (124 Cases)
 Least Affected is Aziz Abad (40 Cases)
 Top Two Favorites types are identified as Mehran (390 Cases)
and Corolla (265 Cases)
 Two Least liked are Honda City (18 Cases) and Suzuki
Potohar (25 Cases)
 Top Brand identified as Vulnerable is Suzuki (1055 Cases)
 Least Likely to be stolen/snatched is KIA (12 Cases)
 Most Favorite Color is White (776 Cases) & least liked is Beige
(28 Cases)
 Only in 1.8% Cases a Single Criminal on the spot was involved
(43.45% were Three Criminals)
 Most snatching occurred between 09:00 AM to 03:00 PM
 Most Thefts happened between 01:00 PM to 02:00 PM
27
Source: ACLC and CPLC

Market Dynamics of Street Crimes
 For 2 Wheelers
o Most Affected Police Station is Korangi Industrial Area (472
Cases)
 Least Affected Police Station is Jamshed Quarters (258
Cases)
 Top Three Favorites types are identified as Super Power-70 (4771
Cases), Unique-70 (3183 Cases) and Honda-70 (2084 Cases)
 Three Least liked are Racer-70 (75 Cases), Asia Hero-70 (108
Cases), and Yamaha Dhoom-70 (114 Cases)
 Most Favorite Color is Black (14155 Cases) and least liked is
Maroon (7 Cases)
 Only in 3% Cases a Single Criminal on the spot was involved
(49.52% were Two Criminals)
 Most snatching occurred between 07 to 09 both in the morning
and Evening
 Most Thefts happened between 07:00 PM to 10:00 PM 28
Source: ACLC and CPLC

Market Dynamics of Street Crimes
 For Mobiles
 Most Affected Police Stations are Ferozabad Police Station (1929
Cases) & Shahra-e-Faisal Police station (1428 Cases)
 Least Affected is Baldia (497 Cases)
 Top Two Brands snatched most as of October 2015 are identified
as Q-Mobile (38%) and Nokia (27.5%)
 Two Least liked are LG and Sony Ericsson
 The phones with highest margins are Apple’s IPhone and
Samsung’s Galaxy
 Most Favorite Color is Black (70% Cases) & least liked is Red (6%
Cases)
 There are 6 Major Mobile Markets in Karachi with 27 Small Wings
 Only in 0.5% Cases a Single Criminal on the spot was involved
(87.25% were Two Criminals)
 Most snatching occurred between 05:00 PM to 11:00 PM
29
Source: ACLC and CPLC

30
Source: ACLC and CPLC

Provincial Comparison
31
District Population
Estimated
2015*
Type of Street Crime 2013 2014 2015 (Up to
September
Karachi 22 Million Vehicle Crimes (2 & 4
Wheelers)
27,457 26,465 16,261
Mobile Snatching 21,792 32,808 29,163
Lahore 10 Million Vehicle Crimes (2 & 4
Wheelers)
7,660 7,607 5,732
Mobile Snatching 3,384 4,722 4,176
Peshawar 3.5 Million Vehicle Crimes (2 & 4
Wheelers)
330 378 217
Mobile Snatching 660 780 1,192
Quetta 2.0 Million Vehicle Crimes (2 & 4
Wheelers)
172 163 180
Mobile Snatching 43 42 70
Sources: * http://www.demographia.com/db-worldua.pdf
Karachi Figures obtained from Mr. Irfan Bahadur, SSP ACLC & Ahmad Chinoy, Chief , CPLC
Lahore Figures obtained from Dr. Haidar Ashraf, CCPO Lahore
Peshawar Figures Obtained from Mr. Mubarak Zeb, CCPO Peshawar
Quetta figures rough estimate obtained from Mr. Hashim Khan, SP CPO, Quetta & Website of Baluchistan Police

Conclusion
• Karachi Operation did improve overall Law & Order Situation
in Karachi
• Crime Figures of all four (Target Killing – Bhatta Collection
– Kidnapping for Ransom – Terrorism) have shown
considerable improvement
• The Sole Credit can not be given to Rangers as when
properly backed Karachi Police in sync with Rangers has
also has delivered reasonably well.
• However, this impact of Karachi Operation is negligible
on “Karachi Street Crimes” whose trend has remained
more or less static rather has shown some increase.
• So what could be the possible explanations??
32

Possible Reasons for Consistency
• Non Reporting (Restricted up to Mobiles & Petty things)
• Cost-Benefit Ratio
• Emboldens the Criminals
• Police Behavior
• Perception of Hassle
• Slackness in recovery of minor losses *
• Average 50% Recovery of 4 Wheelers
• Average 25% Recovery of 2 Wheelers
• Average 5% Recovery of Mobiles
• Avoidance of FIR so as to keep reported crime rates low in their area
• Established Collusion as in some cases the criminals are Policemen of
the area
• Mushroom Growth of Buyers of Such Goods
• Previously there was only Saddar Market but now 6 Major Bazaars for
mobiles
• The profit margins are really sweet
33
Source: * ACLC and CPLC Data

Possible Reasons for Consistency
• Low Incentives
• Pursuing of every crime needs time and efforts
• Apprehending of Bigger Criminals has possibility of substantial
rewards like Head Money and swift promotions
• Rampant & Open Presence of licit and Illicit Arms
• Mirza’s famous claim to have issued 300,000 arms licenses *
• Every Umar/Zaid/Bakar got an access to a firearm
• Power Syndrome
• Shortage of Police Personnel
• For 22 Million only in field cops are 14,433 **
• 12,214 Cops performing VIP & Non-Core Duties
• 1 Policeman for every 1524 People compared to 1 for every 152
People in London
34
Source: * http://tribune.com.pk/story/252988/
** http://www.dawn.com/news/1120529

Possible Reasons for Consistency
• Low Conviction Rate *
• 72000 People Apprehended in 2 years of Karachi Operation
included Criminals involved in Street Crimes
• 90% secured a subsequent release for multiple reasons
• Case in point - Muhammad Mithal Abro arrested 14 Times
• Political Pressures
• More than 20 Organized Gangs Operative in City **
• Most have Political links
• The moment they are apprehended pressure appears
• Are they earning hands for certain Political Parties?
• Society’s Rent Seeking Behavior
• We provide “The Market” for such goods knowing that
these cheap second hand mobile sets or spare-parts of
vehicles may be coming from stolen goods.
• So in a way we indirectly patronize such crimes
35Source: * http://tribune.com.pk/story/946108/karachi-operation-a-game-of-numbers/
** Interview with Mr. Ahmad Chinoy, Chief CPLC

36

Recommendations
• Administrative
• Due to severe shortage of Cops, Ranger’s Policing domain
to cater Street Crimes may be extended for a short and
identifiable period – Rangers are willing to help * .
• Perhaps now is the time to establish a special force to
cater Street Crimes
• Lahore’s “Dolphin Force” need to be replicated
• Will have a Centralized Command but offer Operational
Assistance to the concerned Police Station
• The already identified 34 Hot Spots of such crimes as
such initially just 34 Quick Response Units are needed.
• Fresh Police recruitments are mandatory now to make a
viable Cop to People Ratio
• Posting Tenure Assurance will have a Direct Impact *
37Source: * An Interview with DG Rangers Sindh
** CPLC Chief Ahmad Chinoy

38

Recommendations
• Administrations Role
• Only 17.5% of the entire Police allotted Budget is reserved
for Non-Salary Expenses which is ridiculously low * hence;
• Police demands maintenance from Traders for their vehicles
• CCTV Cameras once installed can not be maintained and stop
working
• Squad cars fall into shabby conditions
• There is less patrolling
• Working environments are extremely non-productive
• Rationalize the Protocol Squads immediately
• 155 Mobile Vans & 4000 Personnel looking after Bungalows of
VIPS who are mostly abroad ** .
• ACLC has repeatedly recommended a Unified Centralized
Registration Database for all Vehicles with 6 digits so as to
overcome a lot of operational difficulties
39Source: * Website of Sindh Police
** http://www.pakistantoday.com.pk/2015/07/02/city/karachi/4000-cops-deployed-on-vip-security-duties

Recommendations
• Manufacturer's/Importers Role
• Cars/Motorcycles
• Almost 61.27% Street Crimes revolve around Suzuki *
• The quality of lock system used in Suzuki is extremely
sub-standard and has very few combinations
• Toyota and Suzuki also has no secret codes like Honda
• Obligatory tough locking systems need to be
implemented
• Cheap inbuilt tracking systems are now in vogue – need
to be implemented in Pakistan too
• Mobiles
• Almost 65% Street Crimes revolve around Q-Mobiles &
Nokia *
• The importers of these Brands need to ensure that each
set has a unique IMEI
40
Source: * ACC Report

Recommendations
• Legislature’s Role
• Certain Provisions of Pakistan Penal Code and Code of
Criminal Procedure need to be made more stringent so as to
counter the repeated early release of criminals involved in
Street Crimes *.
• For Example increasing of Minimum Jail Term or Bail
Requirements
• Witness Protection Laws need to be enacted so as to
increase the reporting of these crimes and whistle blowing
culture
• Community’s Role
• Active Mohallah Vigilance committees need to be formed in
areas struck most
• Basic Trainings in Self Defence and Preventive measures
need to be imparted by LEAs
• Coordinate frequent Awareness Campaigns in their areas
41
Source: * ACC Report

Recommendations
• Media’s Role
• Reporting with Responsibility
• Possible glorification of such crimes
• Balanced accounts and air time
• CPLC’s Role
• CPLC to form dedicated teams for respective police
station’s monitoring & Coordination with Dolphin force
• Conduct Surprise visits
• Act as a Communication link between Public and LEAs
• Oversight of command and control rooms for
• Madadgar 15, E-filing of FIRs, CCTV footages, finger
print database etc.
• Public Complaint Redress System against Police
42
Source: * ACC Report

“Organized crime constitutes nothing
less than a guerrilla war against a
Society”
- Lynden B. Johnson
43

44