The case of 23-year-old Mustafa Amir, who was kidnapped and murdered, has become a major topic in Karachi. Mustafa went missing on January 6, 2025, after leaving his home in the Defense Housing Authority (DHA) area.

According to reports, Mustafa was killed on the first day of the kidnapping, and his body was later found in a burnt-out car. The case has faced several challenges, including initial delays in the investigation. Mustafa’s family has accused the police of focusing on negligence and defamation instead of finding Mustafa. The Sindh High Court had to intervene and order Mustafa’s body to be exhumed for a post-mortem and DNA analysis, which showed that the initial investigation was incomplete. The suspects managed to flee the city, which further complicated the investigation and raised questions about the effectiveness of the police’s efforts to arrest them.

Street crime is on the rise in Karachi, with incidents of armed robbery, assault and robbery becoming increasingly common. According to recent reports, street crime has claimed many lives and created fear among the city’s residents. In 2024 alone, at least 104 people were killed during street crime. These crimes include armed robbery, muggings and car thefts, often involving firearms. Karachi has become a hotbed of crime. The city leads all other districts of Sindh in terms of reported crimes, accounting for 67.5% of the total incidents reported in the province. Car thefts and robberies are common in the city.

According to a report by the Australian Institute of International Affairs, “Karachi’s underbelly is teeming with anti-social and criminal activities. Recently, the city has witnessed an increase in street crimes, thefts, drug-related offences, clashes with law enforcement and targeted killings. In this city, street criminals operate with complete impunity, preying on people in broad daylight near banks, at traffic intersections and in busy markets.”

The report cites the Citizen-Police Liaison Committee, which reported about 22,627 crimes in the first three months of 2024. As of November 2024, more than 65,000 street crime incidents were reported. This includes 47,874 vehicle-related thefts (7,605 motorcycles were hijacked and 38,394 stolen) and 17,952 mobile phones were stolen. Street crime has resulted in 105 deaths and 375 injuries, with robbers shooting at citizens who resist the robberies.

The police have faced considerable criticism over these crimes. There have been allegations of negligence, lack of coordination and even corruption within the force. For example, the Sindh High Court recently ordered law enforcement agencies to launch a crackdown on criminals and their facilitators to curb street crime.

The Muttahida Qaumi Movement-Pakistan (MQM-P) has criticized the Sindh government for failing to take action against armed gangs and street criminals. Party leaders expressed anger over the “bandit law” in rural Sindh, which closes highways after sunset to protect motorists from armed robbers. In April 2024, MQM-P leaders filed a “charge sheet” against the PPP government and the Sindh Police, blaming them for their “failure and incompetence.” “We therefore strongly believe that the federal government must take decisive steps to quell the bloodshed in Karachi and restore peace. There is a need to give equal powers to the Rangers throughout the province.”

Despite efforts to curb crime, including law enforcement and investment in modern weapons, the city continues to struggle with maintaining public safety. The failure of the police to effectively deal with rising street crime has contributed to a sense of helplessness among Karachi’s citizens. Despite the increase in thefts, recovery rates remain low, with only 1,500 motorbikes, 220 cars and 120 mobile phones successfully recovered.

In addition to its ineffectiveness in dealing with the rising crime in the capital, Karachi police are also facing allegations of fake encounters. Several cases have been registered against police officers for allegedly making fake encounters. For example, a case has been registered against three police officers in Orangi Town for allegedly killing a young man over a fake encounter.

The impact on the community has been profound, with the families of the victims demanding justice and better protection from the authorities.