Sindh reports overall drop in crime as Karachi mobile snatching rises

KARACHI: Sindh Chief Minister Murad Ali Shah chaired a meeting on Monday to review the province’s law and order situation, where officials reported an overall decline in crime during the first half of 2026 but flagged a rise in mobile-phone snatching in Karachi.

The meeting was attended by Home Minister Ziaul Hassan Lanjar, Home Secretary Iqbal Memon, Inspector General of Police Javed Alam Odho, Additional IG Karachi Azad Khan and other senior officials. According to figures presented during the briefing, from January to June 2026, murders fell by 17.3% compared with the same period last year, robbery-cum-murder cases declined by 19.4%, robberies causing injuries dropped by 25.4%, and overall robberies and dacoities decreased by 18.9%.

Officials told the chief minister that intelligence-led policing, closer coordination among law enforcement agencies, focused action against criminal networks and stronger border security had contributed to lower levels of serious crime, terrorism-related incidents and street crime across Sindh. However, IG Odho said mobile-phone snatching had gone up, especially in Karachi, and required targeted action.

Karachi crime and police operations

In Karachi, overall street crime was reported to have fallen by 11.77%. Authorities said deaths during robberies declined by 38.3%, while injuries in such incidents dropped by 39.1%. Car and motorcycle snatching also showed a downward trend in the city.

Province-wide, car snatching cases decreased by 23.9%, motorcycle snatching by 31.1%, and motorcycle theft by 22.1%, according to the data shared at the meeting. Police also expanded operations against criminal groups, carrying out 2,184 encounters in the first six months of 2026, compared with 1,574 in the same period of 2025. Officials said 1,087 criminal gangs were broken up, 187 suspects were killed and thousands were arrested. They also reported the seizure of large quantities of illegal weapons.

Counterterrorism, anti-narcotics and katcha operations

The meeting was informed that terrorism-related incidents had dropped by 75%. Officials said the Counter-Terrorism Department conducted 777 intelligence-based operations and arrested 355 suspects linked to banned organisations, including Tehreek-e-Taliban Pakistan, Baloch militant groups and sectarian outfits.

Authorities also briefed the chief minister on anti-narcotics efforts, saying more than 7,000 raids were carried out, resulting in over 7,400 FIRs and the arrest of more than 9,000 suspects. They said significant quantities of heroin, hashish and crystal meth were recovered.

Operations in riverine areas under Operation Nijat-e-Mehran also came under discussion. Officials said 275 dacoits had been killed and hundreds arrested since January, while a total of 550 suspects were either arrested or surrendered during the campaign.

Surveillance, traffic enforcement and official directives

On the technology front, the chief minister was told that more than 1,300 surveillance cameras had been installed in Karachi under the Safe City project, with facial recognition and automatic number plate recognition capabilities. Officials also said 381 cameras had been installed at 40 toll plazas under the Sindh Smart Surveillance System, which had led to hundreds of arrests and recoveries of vehicles.

The briefing said traffic enforcement had also improved, with more than 1.24 million digital challans issued. According to the figures presented, this contributed to a 44% reduction in accidents, a 19% decline in fatalities and a 27% drop in injuries.

Officials further told the meeting that security at key interprovincial border points and crossing areas had been strengthened through increased patrolling and additional check-posts.

Expressing satisfaction over the broader trend, Murad directed law enforcement agencies to maintain the pace and reinforce preventive policing.

"Protection of citizens' life and property is the government's foremost responsibility," he said.

The chief minister added that no leniency would be shown towards criminals, terrorists, drug traffickers or extortionists. He also ordered more intelligence-based operations, stronger technology-driven surveillance and firm action in street crime hotspots, particularly those linked to mobile-phone snatching.

Murad further directed authorities to ensure foolproof security for Chinese nationals, foreign missions, sensitive installations and religious gatherings.

"Every district must remain alert at all times," he said.

He urged officials to preserve the gains made so far through sustained and effective measures across Sindh.