Islamabad, Jan 10 (IANS): The capital city of Pakistan, Islamabad, witnessed a disturbing surge in crime during 2024, with over 900 reported abductions, including women and children, and 152 cases of sexual assault or molestation, according to official police data.
These alarming statistics have raised serious concerns about Islamabad’s reputation as one of Pakistan’s safest and most well-managed cities. The rise in violent crimes has left residents feeling increasingly vulnerable.
Last year, a total of 891 kidnapping cases were registered, including 483 teenage girls, 306 men, and over 150 women. Among the affected were also young boys, making it evident that no demographic has been spared from this growing menace.
“267 kidnapping cases were reported from Soan, 214 from Saddar, 204 in the Rural Zone, 127 in the City Zone, and 79 from industrial areas,” a police officer confirmed. The motives behind these kidnappings varied, including ransom, extortion, forced marriages, and illegal confinement. Additionally, at least 60 cases involved kidnapped teenagers.
Syeda Reshum Masood, a local resident, expressed her concerns: “Islamabad was once considered a secure city where people felt safe walking on the streets. Now, the city has become a nightmare for young girls, women, elderly people, and even boys. The increasing crime rate is not only disturbing but deeply alarming.”
She further added, “Women, who used to move freely, are now cautious about stepping out of their homes or allowing their children to go outside. The fear and insecurity are very real.”
What makes the situation even more worrisome is the reported involvement of police officials in some of these heinous crimes. In one high-profile case, three investigating officers and a medico-legal officer from the Pakistan Institute of Medical Sciences (PIMS) were found guilty of tampering with evidence and altering blood samples in a rape investigation. In another shocking incident, a police officer abducted and sexually assaulted two minors.
The rise in such crimes has shaken the confidence of Islamabad’s residents, who now live in fear amid an atmosphere of growing lawlessness.
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