After Robbery of Foreign Tourists in Sindh, Questions Raised on Security for Locals
A recent robbery of a foreign tourist couple in the Sindh district of Sujawal has raised important questions about security conditions in the region. The incident occurred when a couple from Poland, who were touring Pakistan on bicycles, were robbed at gunpoint. Following the incident, Sindh’s Chief Minister took notice, and local police provided the tourists with mobile phones and accommodation. However, concerns remain: was this a one-off event, or are such crimes a frequent occurrence in the area, and will similar incidents involving local residents also be met with such prompt attention?
According to the police, the foreign tourists were robbed on the Sujawal Bypass, where three criminals snatched their mobile phones before fleeing. A case was registered, and three suspects were identified. Two of the robbers were arrested, and the stolen mobile phones were recovered, while one suspect remains at large. Police are conducting raids to apprehend the remaining suspect.
Following the incident, the Sindh Department of Archaeology issued a statement confirming that the couple were on a tour of the province’s historic sites. The tourists had been cycling through ten different countries for seven months before reaching Sujawal. Sindh’s Home Minister, Zia-ul-Hassan Lanjar, requested details from the SSP (Senior Superintendent of Police) of Sujawal and ordered immediate action to apprehend the robbers. The Minister also instructed the investigation to be carried out using modern techniques.
Sindh’s Minister for Culture and Tourism, Zulfiqar Ali Shah, expressed his concern over the incident and directed authorities to ensure the immediate arrest of the culprits. He also assured the foreign tourists of full protection, calling the incident “highly unfortunate” and pledging the government’s support and security for them.
The affected tourists from Poland later released a video statement, where they explained how they were riding their bicycles in Sujawal when two armed robbers on a motorbike stopped them at gunpoint and stole their phones. They expressed gratitude for the prompt police response and the hospitality they received, including accommodation and replacement phones.
However, local journalists from the region, such as Shahid Siddiqui, highlighted broader security issues in Sujawal and nearby Thatta. According to Siddiqui, theft and robbery of motorcycles and vehicles are common in the area. He also criticized the local authorities for their failure to maintain law and order, attributing the rampant crime to officials who are more focused on illegal activities like the sale of gutka (chewing tobacco) and mawa (sweetened tobacco), which continue to thrive despite government bans.
Siddiqui also pointed out that powerful government officials are often involved in these illicit activities, receiving bribes from the factory owners producing gutka and mawa. He claimed that this corrupt network undermines public safety and security, allowing crimes like the robbery of tourists to flourish.
Regarding the police’s handling of the foreign tourists’ case, Siddiqui suggested that the couple’s video might have been coerced, implying that they were pressured to issue a positive statement in exchange for the police’s assistance. He noted discrepancies in police reports, stating that not only mobile phones, but other valuables were also stolen, and that the tourists were provided with two mobile phones and accommodation by the authorities.
This incident has cast a spotlight on the challenges of maintaining law and order in some areas of Sindh, raising serious questions about the level of protection offered not only to foreign visitors but also to local residents facing similar threats. While the immediate attention given to the foreign tourists’ case is commendable, it has highlighted the need for more consistent and widespread measures to tackle the region’s ongoing security issues.
