ZUBAIR QURESHI
The number thefts, mobile phonesnatching even robbery and murder have dropped to almost zero during the current month and Islamabad seeing ‘bright’ side of coronavirus describes it unprecedented in recent years that crime rate had dropped to such a drastic level. There were a number of incidents during February in which gangs of robbers involved in various incidents were arrested but March has remained more or less crime-free month in Islamabad. Among the major incidents reported last month included hanging of an official of the Federal Investigation Agency (FIA) by unidentified killers and arrest of a gang of robbers involved in looting truck drivers and public transporters. As compared to February, March has passed more or less without a single such incident. In all the major police stations of Islamabad—Aabpara, Margalla, Shalimar, Ramna, Kohsar, Karachi Company, Golra, Lohi Bher and others—not a major case of theft or car lifting was reported. “Deputy Commissioner of Islamabad has announced lockdown in the city and people are not allowed to leave their homes unless there is a genuine reason. Since majority of residents is restricted inside their homes, thieves or burglars have little room to strike,” said a front-desk police clerk at the Karachi Company Police Station. Police Station Ramna also registered a couple of house thefts involving the family members while there was no incident of street crime reported in the police station’s jurisdiction. It seems like general public, thieves and pickpockets have also decided to stay indoors due to lockdown imposed in Islamabad or they have left the city much before the pronouncement, said a police official adding “Before emergence of coronavirus, we had seen a sharp increase in the incidents of theft, robbery and other street crimes in the federal capital.” This can be seen as a positive impact of coronavirus on the city’s crime situation, he further said. Some senior police officers, however, calling a spade a spade attributed this reduction in crime rate to people’s preference to remain indoors out of the fear of coronavirus. According to Deputy Inspector General (Operations) of Islamabad police, Waqaruddin Syed crime rate has dropped in Islamabad as police is patrolling the federal capital on regular intervals keeping a vigilant eye on the enemy of the state and the people. “Our officers and force are on the frontline not only against coronavirus but also crime and criminals in the city,” he further said.
