Despite months of operations and blockades, the lawlessness gripping the Katcha region underscores the urgent need for a unified and robust response. The governments of Punjab, Sindh, and Balochistan must abandon piecemeal approaches and collaborate to craft a comprehensive strategy. This must include equipping law enforcement with the modern weaponry and resources essential to confront the escalating criminal activities in this long-troubled region. The recent attack on a police post near Sarghomo in the Sukkur district’s Pano Aqil tehsil exemplifies the gravity of the situation. A brazen assault by a gang of dacoits resulted in the martyrdom of one police officer and injuries to another, once again highlighting the region’s entrenched lawlessness. For decades, Katcha has served as a sanctuary for criminals, with successive governments failing to eradicate the menace. Instead of diminishing, criminal activities have evolved and expanded, with the region now doubling as a hub for drug trafficking and other illicit enterprises.
The growing sophistication of these gangs is particularly alarming. The attackers in this recent incident reportedly operated under the cover of night, suggesting access to night-vision equipment and advanced weaponry. Their firepower appears to surpass that of the police, exposing glaring deficiencies in law enforcement’s operational capacity. This imbalance demands immediate rectification. Providing the police with adequate modern weaponry and training is non-negotiable. Equally important is the disruption of the supply chains enabling dacoits to acquire high-tech equipment and arms. Tackling these hidden networks requires an intelligence-driven approach, along with tighter controls on the proliferation of illegal arms. For too long, the Katcha region has symbolized the failure of the state to establish its writ in remote areas. The region was once synonymous with highway robberies and kidnappings for ransom but has now transformed into a breeding ground for organized crime. Such unchecked lawlessness not only undermines public safety but also erodes faith in the state’s ability to govern.
The time for half-measures is over. Authorities must send an unambiguous message: no one, regardless of their strength or connections, can escape the grasp of the state’s machinery and the rule of law. The residents of Katcha deserve more than fleeting crackdowns; they deserve sustained peace and security. To achieve this, political will and inter-provincial coordination must take precedence over bureaucratic inertia and provincial rivalries. The Katcha region’s enduring chaos is not just a test of policing but a litmus test for governance itself. If Pakistan is to curb such entrenched lawlessness, it must commit to a strategy that is relentless, resourceful, and rooted in the principles of justice. Failure to do so risks allowing criminal elements to further embed themselves, jeopardizing not only the safety of this region but the broader stability of the nation.
