A man accused of committing more than 100 robberies in Sindh and Punjab escaped from police custody on January 29.

 

As per details, Punjab and Sindh police were after the accused in a joint search, and ultimately identified as Riyasat, was arrested in Punjab. However, he managed to escape from police custody while being transferred to Karachi’s Gizri police station.

 

The last case against the absconding accused was registered at the Boat Basin police station on January 3.

 

Police told the media that the suspect had stolen jewellery worth Rs 1.5 to 2 crore in different incidents during the last robbery. Additionally, multiple cases of theft and robbery have been registered against him in Punjab and other areas of Sindh.

 

Riyasat, the most wanted accused, was arrested by the South Zone Police of Punjab and was handed over to Karachi police. Senior Superintendent of Police (SSP) Investigation South confirmed his escape to the media.

 

A police official told the media that following this serious lapse, the Senior Investigating Officer (SIO) at Gizri police station, Shafqat Mangi, has been suspended for negligence. Meanwhile, the inquiry into the matter has been handed over to Deputy Superintendent of Police (DSP) Investigation Clifton.

 

Sindh police's recent record paints a grim picture of its performance in the province and especially in the metropolitan city of Karachi.

 

Five-year-old Aliyan and six-year-old Ali Raza, who went missing from the Garden area of Karachi on January 14, have not yet been traced by the police despite an extensive search.

 

The children went missing from the area when they were reportedly playing outside their house. 

The Garden police have said that they have registered a case of kidnapping and started an investigation, yet after more than two weeks, the children have not been found. 

 

Similarly, seven-year-old Sarim, a child who went missing from North Karachi on January 7 was found after 11 days.

 

The autopsy report of the child revealed he was subjected to sexual assault before getting murdered in Bilal Colony’s Anam Apartments. 

 

As per the details, the victim had suffered 12 different injuries on various parts of the body and “all are antemortem (prior to death) except one injury”.

 

The report also outlined that although the body was found after 11 days, the examination of the body confirms that the boy had died “approximately four to five days” before the post-mortem.

 

These revelations raised concerns about the investigating skills of the police’s efforts to recover the child, as it is clear now that he was alive at least a week after his kidnapping.