A widening gap between reported crimes and registered cases in the Federal Capital has sparked concerns over police transparency and potential data manipulation. Official records reveal that out of 15,639 complaints filed so far this year, only 6,551 First Information Reports (FIRs) have been registered.
The shortfall has prompted serious questions about the Islamabad Police’s complaint-handling procedures and allegations of systemic underreporting.
Discrepancies in Reporting and Registration
Initial response to crime-related calls is typically handled by the Dolphin Squad and patrolling units via the police helpline. Upon verification, local police are dispatched to gather statements and facilitate the filing of official complaints, each tagged electronically with a unique e-number for tracking.
However, discrepancies between e-tags and FIR numbers suggest irregularities. In several cases, the sequencing between complaints and FIRs does not match. For example, in the Khanna police jurisdiction, FIR No. 30 corresponds to e-tag No. 28, FIR No. 99 matches e-tag No. 88, and FIR No. 121 aligns with e-tag No. 132. Notably, FIRs Nos. 235, 236, and 237, registered by Koral police, reportedly lack any e-tags at all.
Zone-Wise Breakdown Highlights Inconsistencies
A zone-wise analysis from January 1 to April 5, 2025, highlights further disparities:
- City Zone: 4,232 complaints, 1,349 FIRs
- Saddar Zone: 4,001 complaints, 1,737 FIRs
- Industrial Area Zone: 2,726 complaints, 933 FIRs
- Soan Zone: 2,301 complaints, 1,484 FIRs
- Rural Zone: 2,379 complaints, 1,048 FIRs
These figures indicate a significant number of complaints remain unresolved or unregistered—raising concerns about institutional accountability.
Allegations of Downgrading Crime Severity
The credibility of police data is further under scrutiny following allegations that serious crimes are being deliberately downgraded in official records. In one recent case, a reported dacoity involving more than four armed men who looted Rs3.1 million worth of poultry on March 31 was registered under Section 392 (robbery), instead of the more serious Section 395 (dacoity), which applies to armed robbery involving multiple assailants.
Similar misclassifications have been reported in cases of livestock theft and impersonation.
Accountability and the Law
Senior police officials admit to a spike in criminal activity but cite non-registration and inaccurate classification as key contributors to skewed statistics. Critics argue that the diversion of senior officers toward administrative rather than policing priorities is exacerbating the issue.
Under Section 154 of the Criminal Procedure Code, police are legally bound to register an FIR upon receiving a complaint. Failure to comply constitutes a criminal offense.
Lack of Official Response
Repeated attempts to obtain official comment from Inspector General of Police Syed Ali Nasir Rizvi and Director General of Safe City Shakir Dawar since April 9 have gone unanswered. Deputy Inspector General Operations Jawad Tariq acknowledged that an internal review is underway, but a formal statement remains pending.
As crime figures continue to rise, the growing credibility gap between police records and ground realities has triggered calls for a transparent and independent audit of law enforcement practices in the capital.
