LAHORE: Despite efforts and measures taken by the government and law enforcement agencies for busting gangs, the citizens have been deprived of their cars, bikes and other valuables worth billions of rupees during the last ten months. It was learnt through reliable police sources that criminal gangs working in the outskirts of the city collaborate with each other and target the posh and urban localities of Lahore on a daily basis. In the provincial capital, citizens are being deprived of their valuables including 15 to 17 motorbikes, 5 to 6 cars, other vehicles, cash, gold ornaments on a daily basis. Police pickets, Mujahid Force, Dolphin Force, Tiger Squad, Muhafiz Force, Quick Response Force, PRU and Elite Force have made this city a ‘police state’ but all these forces have been unable to protect the citizens and have proved to be a burden on the government coffers. Setting aside their basic duty of protection of the people, they are busy protecting politicians, VVIPs, VIPs and police high-ups who are hiding behind the blocks. Mujahid SP Faisal Shahzad said that the newly established Dolphin Force had arrested as many as 258 criminals, including robbers and dacoits, and recovered cash, valuables, cell phones, bikes, cars, drugs and illegal weapons from their possession during the last ten months. He added that the Dolphin Force responded to emergency calls and rescued 12,953 citizens during different incidents across the city. He said that the Dolphin Force registered 53 cases against wheelers, vehicles of fake number plates and those involved in criminal activities during the same period. Briefing the media on the performance of Dolphin Force during the last ten months, the SP said that the force had arrested 198 criminals during patrolling or snap checking across the city and recovered illegal weapons, drugs and other valuables from them. At least 60 culprits involved in robberies and mugging were also arrested from different parts of the city, he said, adding that the police recovered 45 cell phones, three cars and 20 motorcycles from those arrested. Faisal Shahzad said that the Dolphin Force also handed over 15 missing children to their parents as well under the head of community policing. He said that the force also shifted 390 injured victims of road accidents to different hospitals of the city. He said the Dolphin Force maintained traffic flow on 3,734 places of the city where traffic was blocked due to protests, rallies and other activities during the same period. He also appealed to the citizens to cooperate with Dolphin Force to defeat terrorists and criminals in the city. He said that another batch of graduating personnel would soon join the force, as they were currently getting training at Chung Training College. The increase in the number of Dolphin Force personeel would further improve the situation of law and order in the city and help the law enforcers control crimes, he said, “Dolphin Force will play its role in making Pakistan crime-free.” Published in Daily Times, November 23rd 2017.