ISLAMABAD by SPECIAL COORESPONDENT EHSAN BUKHARI
A sharp rise in serious crimes — including armed robberies, car and motorcycle thefts, kidnappings, and street crimes — has gripped Pakistan’s federal capital, raising concerns over the effectiveness of police leadership.
According to official sources, 1,289 criminal incidents were reported in Islamabad during the first quarter of 2025 (January to March) alone. In major robberies, citizens lost valuables worth over Rs. 200 million, including cash, gold, and other items. Despite the scale of these crimes, police have failed to arrest the culprits or dismantle any major criminal networks.
Dozens of vehicles and motorcycles worth millions of rupees have been stolen across the city, and the rising trend of these crimes has left the residents feeling increasingly unsafe.
Sources inside the police department allege that the root cause of this law and order breakdown is the appointment of inexperienced junior officers to key operational roles. Senior and seasoned officers have reportedly been sidelined in favor of hand-picked juniors. One such example is the appointment of SP Shoaib Khan as SSP Operations Islamabad, a junior officer whose posting has sparked controversy.
Since Shoaib Khan took charge, sources claim, criminal activity has escalated, with no significant action taken against major criminal gangs. Areas like F-6, F-7, F-10 Markaz, F-11, G-11, Bahria Town, and Bahria Enclave have seen an uptick not only in theft and robbery but also in open drug dealing. Reports suggest that illegal foreign liquor worth crores of rupees is being sold openly in these areas.
Internal sources further allege that the SSP maintains a hostile work environment, mistreating his subordinates and deducting their already meager salaries as punishment. “We feel like daily wage workers in Islamabad Police,” said one officer on condition of anonymity. “We are only paid for the days we are on duty. With rising inflation, this is becoming unbearable.”
This toxic leadership style has reportedly demoralized the police force, making 27 SHOs and investigation officers across the city reluctant or unable to perform their duties effectively.
Efforts to get a response from SSP Shoaib Khan were unsuccessful, as he did not respond to media queries. Similarly, attempts to reach IG Islamabad Nasir Rizvi were also in vain. However, a spokesperson from the IGP’s office stated that all officers, including junior appointees, are receiving benefits as per their pay scales and entitlements.
