As on one hand the largest metropolis of the country – Karachi – faces a multitude of problems similarly on the other hand criminal activities are also on a rise in the city. Among the hoards of issues the problem of robberies, thefts, car and mobile phone snatching has become the order of the day. 

To stop the various crime activities taking place in the city separate cells have been established but it is ironic that those managing the affairs of these cells are more focussed on getting their share of weekly, monthly extorted money (Batha). Due to this negligence in duties the officers heading these various cells manage to fill their pockets but the objectives for which the cells were established remain unfulfilled.

Centres like CIA Centre, IG Special Cell, Anti-Robbery Cell, Lyari Task Force, Anti-Violence Cell, CIA Jamshaid Town and CID Centre were established. Many of these have been done away with now or their names have been changed. But whatever the case is these centres have either been used against political opponents or they were reported in torture cases involving innocent civilians.

In Karachi crimes like cars and motorcycles snatching are increasing with every passing day. The government has established a task force by the name of Anti-Car Lifting Cell. Previously any one whose car used to get snatched was directed to contact the anti-car lifting cell and all such cases used to be transferred to the cell. This resulted in the cell violating its authority. The car-snatching victims were not just harassed they were also forced to give them hefty bribes for getting their recovered cars back.

Many police officers get themselves transferred to the cell just as to make a quick buck.

In spite of huge government funding, appointment of large number of personnel, the crime rate relating to car snatching could not be brought down. The anti-car lifting cell arrested many car-lifters but it later let them go after allegedly taking huge sums in bribes.

SSP Sanaullah Abbasi after his appointment at the cell submitted a report with the IG Sindh in which he mentioned that in spite of government funds running into millions and appointment of large number of police personnel in the whole year the cell just managed to recover a total of 47 snatched cars. Out of these 47, forty of the cars were recovered by the relevant police stations and the remaining 7 by the anti-car lifting cell.

After the introduction of news police system the anti-car lifting department was abolished. Since then the anti-car lifting cell is functioning in an individual capacity. Presently the cell is being run by a DSP who holds additional charge of SSP. There are around hundred and fifty police officers and personnel at the cell, and 12 dozen police mobiles that are being used more under the personal use of the police officers than at the disposal of the cell.

The anti-car lifting cell has established three police checkposts at Super Highway, National Highway and Hub River Road. In spite of this snatched cars are taken out of the city and civilians are harassed at the posts. The cell is located close to the Governor’s House. The anti-car lifting cell is involved in receiving bribes and ‘Batha’ from the various dens of crime located in the city.

Some days back Defence Police Station arrested a gang of car lifters along with its leader Ahmad Sarfaraz but he was later let loose after a bribe of Rs0.3 million was received. Whereas his other two accomplices were booked only under FIR 22/08 and 23/08 for keeping illegal arms. Same is the case with almost all other police stations in the city.