ISLAMABAD, Pakistan: The US Embassy in Islamabad has issued a security alert asking its nationals to exercise caution and remain alert while traveling in the Federal Capital of Pakistan wherein street crimes are on the rise.
In its security advisory, the US Embassy said that as per the reports, the Federal Capital particularly its G-6, F-6, F-7, F-10, I-9, and I-10 Sectors have recently been witnessing an increase in street crimes i.e. muggings, armed robberies, and thefts of mobile phones, purses, and automobiles.
The Embassy noted that amid the deteriorated law and situation in Islamabad, vigilance by the police may not always be up to the mark; therefore, the US Citizens must not walk out their houses/offices unnecessarily.
The US Citizens were also urged to avoid visiting markets and showing off their valuables i.e. cash and jewelry, maintain a low profile, and remain vigilant while visiting banks or ATMs.
However, the Deputy Commissioner Islamabad Muhammad Hamza Shafqaat strongly refuted the reports implying a surge in street crimes in Islamabad as mentioned by the US Embassy in its advisory.
The Deputy Commissioner Islamabad also termed the tweet by the US Department of State Bureau of Consular Affairs citing the rising crimes as “profoundly exaggerated”.
“It appears there is an intentional attempt to malign the law and order situation in Islamabad. Everyone please check the stats yourself and judge,” the Deputy Commissioner said.
Hamza Shafqaat told that in 2018 and 2019, a total of 1,313 and 1,165 incidents of heinous crime were registered respectively in Islamabad. While in 2020 to date, 553 such incidents have been reported.
The Deputy Commissioner said that in the first nine months of the ongoing year (2020), merely 268 incidents of heinous crime have been registered in Islamabad against 821 incidents witnessed during the same period last year.
Hamza Shafqaat said that a 33 percent decline has been witnessed in crimes in 2020 as compared to previous years; therefore, the people must not give weightage to rumours and false information.
Comparison of crimes data of last three years;
