Murder cases up 8% in June

A report based on crime statistics collected from 97 DPO offices in June 2012

ISLAMABAD, Sept 19: Murder cases went up 8% with 1,085 being reported in 85 districts in June as compared with May figures of 996 covering 80 districts, says a Free and Fair Election Network (FAFEN) report.

The report released Wednesday said Peshawar (54) and Faisalabad (49) were the highest murder reporting districts.

FAFEN observers visited 97 offices of District Police Officers (DPOs) across the country to gather information on First Information Reports (FIRs) registered for 27 offences falling under the Pakistan Penal Code (PPC).

The collected data revealed that among crimes involving physical harm to people, FIRs for accidental death and hurt shot up 33% and 3% but those for terrorism-related incidents (20%) and attempted murder (7%) declined.

The total number of FIRs fell 16% per district during the period monitored. Ninety seven districts had 42,780 FIRs lodged while the preceding month’s statistics recorded were 45,448 in 86 districts.

Sixty percent of the total FIRs filed were for ‘other crimes’, followed by crimes pertaining to property (18%), crimes involving physical harm (13%), threat and fraud (8%) and crimes against women (3%).

A region-wise comparison shows Punjab (64%) reported the most crimes with Khyber Pakhtunkhwa (30%), Sindh (11%), Balochistan (1%) and ICT (less than 1%) following.

A better outreach, lack of parallel judicial systems and a higher confidence level between the police and the people are said to be the reasons for better crime reportage in Punjab than other regions.

Under crimes pertaining to property, cases of criminal misappropriation of property doubled – seven FIRs lodged in the reporting period as compared with two in May. Similarly, extortion cases increased two-fifths and theft was up 19%. However, FIRs for motor vehicle lifting and motor vehicle snatching dropped 13% and 7%.

Among threat and fraud crimes, FIRs for criminal intimidation increased 50%, followed by criminal breach of trust (17%) and counterfeiting currency (12%). However, offences against public tranquility came down 37% as did cheating cases by 8%.

Crimes against women saw a drop too – down from 1,226 cases recorded in May to 1,138.

The monitored period had 12 cases of insulting women’s modesty through word, gesture or act in seven districts. The previous month 10 FIRs were registered in two districts.

Offences relating to marriage registered a decline of 18% and so did cases of outraging women’s modesty by assault or force (11%) and forced marriages (8%).

Out of total FIRs registered, 47% were reported in 10 districts – nine in Punjab and one in KP. Lahore (13%), Faisalabad (7%) and Gujranwala (5%) were the highest reporting districts.