Islamabad, January 10 (IANS): The year 2024 witnessed an alarming escalation in crime in Pakistan’s capital, Islamabad, with over 900 individuals, including women and children, becoming victims of abduction, while 152 cases of sexual assault or molestation were reported, according to police authorities. Traditionally regarded as one of the safest areas in the country, Islamabad’s reputation is now under scrutiny due to a surge of criminal activities that severely undermine public safety.
In total, 891 kidnapping incidents were recorded last year, involving 483 teenage girls, 306 men, numerous boys, and over 150 women. The kidnappings were reported across various regions in the capital, with 267 cases in Soan, 214 in Saddar, 204 in Rural areas, 127 in the City, and 79 in the industrial zones. These incidents often involved extortion, ransom, forced marriages, and wrongful confinement, with at least 60 teenage abductions highlighting the critical situation.
Local resident Syeda Reshum Masood expressed her concerns, indicating that Islamabad, historically seen as orderly and well-managed, has deteriorated into a hub of abductions, murders, robberies, and sexual assaults, creating a climate of fear and insecurity. “Women who once moved freely are now extremely cautious, reflecting the pervasive sense of danger,” she noted.
The police, expected to uphold law and order, are implicated in contributing to the chaos. Some officials have been accused of heinous acts, including raping minors held in custody and manipulating evidence to protect perpetrators. In one instance, three police investigation officers and a medico-legal officer at Pakistan Institute of Medical Sciences allegedly tampered with evidence in a rape investigation. Additionally, a police officer was accused of abducting and assaulting two minors.
These revelations have sent shockwaves through Islamabad, leaving residents fearful and questioning the safety of their community amidst this crime wave.
Original Source: https://www.morungexpress.com/pakistan-alarm-bells-ring-as-crime-rate-in-islamabad-spirals-out-of-control
Category : World
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Publish Date: 2025-01-10 17:30:00
