Sharjeel Memon blames ‘illegal settlers’ for surge in street crimes

• Sharjeel Memon blamed “illegal settlers” for the rise in street crimes in Karachi.
• Over 10 lives were lost to street crimes during Ramadan.
• Memon stated that the Sindh government is making every effort.

Sharjeel Inam Memon, the senior minister of Sindh, attributed the surge in street crimes in Karachi, which claimed over 10 lives during the holy month of Ramadan, to “illegal settlers” on Wednesday.

A local news agency disclosed that there were 6,780 incidents of street crime in Karachi in a single month, with 20 vehicles being hijacked and over 130 others stolen. The report also highlighted that 830 motorcycles were hijacked and 4,200 others stolen during Ramadan.

The Human Rights Commission of Pakistan reported that tens of thousands of street crimes were recorded by the police in 2023, resulting in the loss of over a hundred lives. They noted that the trend has continued into the first quarter of 2024.

Memon, after Eid ul Fitr prayers in Hyderabad, told reporters, “The Sindh government is making every possible effort to control street crimes […] Illegal settlers are the cause of street crime.”

In the face of the unchecked increase in street crimes, Additional Inspector General (AIG) Karachi Imran Yaqoob Minhas also disclosed that between 300,000 and 400,000 professional beggars migrate to the city during Ramadan to take advantage of the Eid season.

While speaking to reporters in Karachi, Sindh Governor Kamran Tessori described the street crimes in Karachi as an obstacle to economic growth. He stated, “The SIFC — the county’s civil-military body — should take responsibility for restoring peace to Karachi.”

Karachi Mayor Murtaza Wahab, during his press conference, mentioned that the city, which has the country’s largest population, has witnessed an increase in street crimes over the past six months.

He reassured the public by saying, “The law enforcement agencies are working to arrest the culprits.” Recently, the Sindh High Court (SHC) issued a one-month deadline to the provincial authorities to reestablish law and order in the province in light of the escalating incidents of street crime in Karachi.

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