The Muttahida Qaumi Movement-Pakistan (MQM-P) and the Pakistan People’s Party (PPP) have once again exchanged sharp criticisms regarding the escalating street crimes in Karachi, according to ARY News Karachi.
Senior Deputy Convener of MQM-P, Syed Mustafa Kamal, addressed a press conference, claiming that a long-standing conspiracy aims to economically exploit Karachi’s citizens, with the recent surge in street crimes being part of this scheme. He accused the Sindh government of failing to protect the lives and properties of Karachi’s residents, noting that 71 young men have fallen victim to street crimes in recent months.
“All individuals involved in crimes have been arrested and released on bail by the courts, only to commit crimes again,” Kamal said, citing a police report. He criticized the Sindh government for its inability to stop these perpetrators and suggested that licensed citizens should be allowed to carry arms for self-defense.
Kamal also announced that MQM-P would work with local neighborhoods to establish security measures and called for local policing as the solution to the problem. “We demand that the state, federal, and provincial governments, judiciary, law enforcement agencies, police, and rangers perform their duties and secure the city,” he added.
In response, Sindh government spokesperson Ghanwer Ali Khan Isran labeled MQM-P’s suggestion to issue arms licenses to citizens as “irresponsible and childish.” Isran accused MQM-P of promoting ethnic politics and spreading fear for cheap popularity, asserting that arming citizens is not a solution but a recipe for disaster. He emphasized that the quota system was designed to provide opportunities to marginalized communities and that its abolition would harm those already disadvantaged.
“The solution to Karachi’s problems lies in social justice and equality,” the spokesperson concluded, arguing that addressing the root causes of crime through social reforms is the key to improving the city’s security situation.
This ongoing dispute highlights the deep political divisions and differing approaches to addressing Karachi’s crime issues, with each party blaming the other for the deteriorating safety and security conditions in the city.
