KARACHI: The Jackson Police Station, founded in 1924, is the oldest surviving police station in the Pakistani megacity of Karachi. Once known as a temporary lockup for petty criminals, it has evolved over the decades into a key facility to hold suspects involved in serious crimes like murder, armed robbery and drug trafficking in a bustling port area of the country’s commercial hub.
As the population of Karachi, Pakistan’s largest and most populous city, has surged from 244,000 to over 20 million in the last century, so too has the nature of crimes. The Jackson Police Station — which is used to house suspects before they are produced in courts or convicted and sentenced to prison — has kept up pace.
“While the lockup has been in existence for the past 100 years, its guests have changed over time,” Station House Master Muhammad Ishaq told Arab News.
Fifty years ago, the criminals brought to the lockup may have pick-pocketed a few hundred rupees or nicked schoolbooks from a nearby shop, but now, people accused of violent murders are brought in and a drug dealer was recently holed up there after being caught with nearly 58 kilograms of narcotics.
“Similarly, we’ve apprehended robbers and those involved in oil theft from the [nearby] refinery,” Ishaq said.
The area where Jackson Police Station is located on Napier Mole Road near Karachi’s Keamari Port is one of the city’s most dynamic and densely populated regions, a dizzying mishmash of residential, commercial, and industrial zones.
Due to its proximity to the port, offenses such as smuggling, illegal fishing and other maritime-related crimes are common in the area. Issues of street crime, narcotics, and public order are also standard-fare in the Keamari region, home to a diverse population of dock workers, traders and various ethnic communities.
Peerzada Salman, the author of ‘Legacies of Empires’ about colonial-era buildings in Karachi, said most of the buildings in Keamari were built before the partition of the Indian Subcontinent and the end of British colonial rule in 1947.
The police station and a nearby market were named after either of two prominent Jacksons of Karachi, Salman said: one, the principal of DJ College and the other a prominent pharmacy owner.
“PRISON CONDITIONS”
According to documents seen by Arab News, the police station existed before 1933.
“In 1924, the first police post or police station [of Karachi] was established here, and its building is still there in front of you, and it also has a plaque from that time,” SHO Ishaq said. “We also have records of the SHOs from after 1935 onwards.
“From the very beginning, it has a lockup and an arms depot where weapons are stored securely. It has a bunker [as well]. All of this indicates that the building was originally constructed precisely to be used as a police station.”
But the condition of the lockup has long been a point of concern.
Pakistan has one of the world’s most overcrowded prison systems, according to Human Rights Watch, which said in a report released last year that the South Asian nation’s more than 100 jails had at least 88,000 inmates, against the officially approved capacity of 65,168. Some jail cells, the report said, were holding as many as 15 prisoners when they were designed for just three.
Prisoners are forced to live under unsanitary conditions and “lice, fleas, scabies and skin diseases are common in prison,” it said.
Other than the lack of health care facilities in prisons, the report also highlighted rights abuses faced by the prisoners, including torture, discrimination and lack of access to legal aid.
Prisons are also under-resourced, experts say, and efforts at reform are stymied by ingrained attitudes of discrimination, among other reasons.
Jibran Nasir, a lawyer and human rights activist, criticized the state of lockups across Pakistan, describing them as “overcrowded, poorly ventilated, smelly, and lacking basic amenities like washrooms and bedding.”
“Suspects are held temporarily, but their detention can be extended during physical remands. Often, they have no contact with family members who could provide essentials like pillows or clean clothes,” Nasir said.
But SHO Ishaq said “standard operating procedures” at Jackson were “of the same level and methods in the whole of Pakistan.”
“Safety, security, cleanliness and the facilities that should be provided to the accused, they are all there, because we hate the crime, not the suspect,” the police officer said, adding that greater attention was now being paid to the cleanliness and hygiene of the police station.
Salman, whose book has a dedicated chapter on Jackson, also said there was room for improvement.
Apart from playing a “vital role” in policing, the station was also part of the city’s cultural heritage and along with other buildings in the vicinity needed upkeep, the historian said.
“The Jackson Police Station, I think, is in pretty good shape. Still, it needs a bit of restoration, a bit of refurbishment … The facade looks good, but obviously the inner area needs a bit of touch-up.”
Karachi’s oldest lockup, Jackson Police Station, evolves as city sprawls
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Karachi’s oldest lockup, Jackson Police Station, evolves as city sprawls
- Founded in 1924, Jackson is used to hold petty criminals and suspects in serious crimes before they are presented in court, sentenced
- Proximity to Keamari Port means lockup sees all manner of suspects in cases of smuggling, illegal fishing, murder and drug trafficking
Pakistan defeats Brazil to win Karate Light Heavyweight Championship in Singapore
- Shahzaib Rind from southwestern Balochistan beats Brazilian Luiz Victor Rocha in final match
- Pakistan diplomat Rabia Shafiq congratulates Rind for a “smashing fight and historic victory“
ISLAMABAD: Pakistan has won the World Karate Combat Light Heavyweight Championship, state media reported on Thursday, as Shahzaib Rind beat Brazil’s Luiz Victor Rocha in the final in Singapore.
The World Karate Combat is a professional martial arts league which hosts events around the world, showcasing bouts between fighters from different weight classes and countries. The Light Heavyweight Championship is a specific weight class typically for fighters weighing between 175 to 205 pounds (79 to 93 kg).
“Pakistan’s Shahzaib Rind from Balochistan has won the World Karate Combat Light Heavyweight Championship in Singapore,” Radio Pakistan said on Thursday. “He defeated his Brazilian rival Luiz Victor Rocha in the final.
Pakistan High Commissioner to Singapore, Rabia Shafiq, congratulated Rind for the “smashing fight and historic victory” at the Karate Combat Singapore.
“You have done us all proud. Keep reaching new heights, champ! Shout out to Pakistanis in Singapore for a massive show of support,” she said in a post on the social media site X.
Earlier this year, Pakistan edged India out 2-1 in the Karate Combat 45 competition in Dubai, with an “unstoppable” Rind convincingly beating India’s Rana Singh to seal the win.
The fixture between the arch-rival neighbors was a much awaited one, especially due to the pre-match hype between fighters of the two countries.
Four security personnel killed in two separate attacks in northwest Pakistan
- Khyber Pakhtunkhwa has witnessed attacks on police and security personnel, along with polio vaccination teams
- The two attacks took place in Karak and North Waziristan districts, close to Pakistan’s border with Afghanistan
PESHAWAR: Almost a week after police protested against militant attacks in northwestern Khyber Pakhtunkhwa (KP) province, four security personnel were killed in a targeted attack and a gunbattle with armed factions in the region on Thursday, confirmed police officials.
The first incident occurred in Karak, a southern district of the province, where unidentified assailants on a motorbike gunned down an official of the paramilitary Levies Force, an ill-equipped outfit, earlier in the day.
“Unidentified gunmen shot dead the Levies Force official in the center of the district after he left his home for duty,” Shaukat Khan, a police spokesperson in Karak district, told Arab News over the phone.
He informed that a police contingent arrived at the crime scene to gather evidence and trace the killers.
In another incident, three security personnel lost their lives in an exchange of fire with militants in North Waziristan’s Boya village near the border with Afghanistan.
“We have information of an exchange of fire near Boya in which three security personnel lost their lives,” Murad Khan, an official deployed at the police control room in the area, told Arab News.
KP, which borders Afghanistan, has witnessed numerous attacks on police, security personnel and anti-polio vaccination teams in recent months, along with kidnappings of civil and military officials.
Only a week ago, police in the volatile district of Lakki Marwat called off their days-long protest, condemning a spike in militant attacks and targeted killings of police officials.
Last week, unidentified gunmen opened fire on police guards escorting a polio vaccination team, killing one of them.
The Pakistan Army has a heavy presence across the province, where it has been battling militants from Al Qaeda, the Pakistani Taliban and other groups for nearly two decades.
There have been protests in several districts of KP since July, when Pakistan’s cabinet announced a new military operation amid a surge in terror attacks across the country.
People in KP have rejected plans for an armed operation and demand that civilian agencies like the police and the counter-terrorism department be better equipped.
No group has claimed responsibility for the latest attacks so far, but officials in Islamabad say militants associated with the banned Tehreek-e-Taliban Pakistan (TTP) are primarily responsible for violence against the police and security personnel.
Islamabad has even blamed Kabul’s Afghan Taliban rulers for “facilitating” anti-Pakistan militants, a charge Kabul denies.
ICC team discusses security arrangements with Karachi police ahead of Champions Trophy
- ICC delegation is on four-day visit to Pakistan ahead of tournament from Feb.19 to Mar. 9, 2025
- Pakistan is continuing with final preparations to host their first multi-team event since 2008
KARACHI: A delegation from the International Cricket Council (ICC) on Thursday visited a special unit of the Sindh police in Karachi to discuss security arrangements for the 2025 ICC Champions Trophy, which will be hosted by Pakistan from February 19 to March 9 next year.
In addition to Karachi where it reviewed security arrangements at the National Stadium on Wednesday, the ICC team, which is on a four-day visit to Pakistan, will visit key cricket venues in Islamabad, Rawalpindi, and Lahore to ensure they are in top condition to host the tournament next year. The delegation’s visit follows a previous inspection conducted by a three-member ICC team in April of this year.
On Thursday, the ICC delegation headed by Security Head of ICC Recce Team, David Masker, visited the Special Security Unit (SSU) Headquarters in Karachi.
“The visit aimed to strengthen collaboration between law enforcement agencies and the ICC to ensure a safe and secure environment for players, officials, and fans during the prestigious event,” the SSU said in a statement.
Commandant SSU Anwar Khetran briefed the ICC on security arrangements to be implemented during matches scheduled at the National Bank Stadium in Karachi.
“He emphasized the importance of a coordinated approach to security, which includes crowd management, emergency response plans, and collaboration with various stakeholders,” the statement added.
DIG Security & Emergency Services Division Dr. Maqsood Ahmed also met with delegation and “encouraged all stakeholders to maintain high performance standards and to communicate any resource needs to management promptly, ensuring that all necessary support is in place for a successful tournament.”
The ICC delegation, according to the statement, reaffirmed the Council’s commitment to working closely with local authorities to enhance security measures for the event.
The ICC delegation is scheduled to depart for Dubai on September 21 as Pakistan continues final preparations to host their first multi-team event since 2008.
Last week, ICC Chief Executive Geoff Allardice confirmed there were currently no plans to relocate the ICC Champions Trophy 2025 from Pakistan.
‘Particularly worried’ about penetration of militants from Afghanistan into Pakistan — UN chief
- Pakistan has seen rise in attacks in recent weeks which it blames on militants operating from Afghanistan
- Afghan Taliban say they do not allow Afghanistan’s territory to be used by militants against other nations
ISLAMABAD: UN Secretary-General António Guterres said on Wednesday the international body was “particularly worried” about the penetration of militants from Afghanistan into Pakistan, calling on Kabul not to allow its soil to be used by terror groups.
Pakistan has seen a rise in militant attacks in recent weeks, with many of them taking place in the northwestern Khyber Pakhtunkhwa province bordering Afghanistan where Islamabad says groups like the outlawed Pakistani Taliban, or TTP, are hiding and from where they daily target security forces convoys and check posts, and carry out targeted killings and kidnappings of law enforcers and government officials.
Militants, particularly from separatist groups, have also repeatedly struck in the southwestern Balochistan province, which borders Afghanistan and Iran.
“We are particularly worried… when we look into the neighboring countries, we are particularly worried with the fact that there is a penetration of terrorists from Afghanistan into Pakistan and that that is creating, of course, many innocent victims and being a threat to Pakistani security,” Guterres told reporters in response to a question about what the UN planned to do about militants using safe havens in Afghanistan to launch attacks in Pakistan.
“So, one of the things that is absolutely essential is that Afghanistan controls its territory and doesn’t allow terrorist groups from any other country to operate from Afghanistan.”
Islamabad says militants mainly associated with the banned Tehreek-e-Taliban Pakistan (TTP) frequently launch attacks from Afghanistan and has even blamed Kabul’s Afghan Taliban rulers of facilitating anti-Pakistan militants. Kabul denies the charges.
Over 80 policemen have been killed in ambushes and target killings in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa in 2024, according to police figures.
Shan Foods, Pakistan’s top spice mix maker, eyes Middle East expansion
- Co-chairperson of one of Pakistan’s largest producers of packaged spices speaks to Arab News in exclusive interview
- Says Middle East “key focus area” for company, claims business in the region has grown exponentially in 20 years
KARACHI: Shan Foods (Private) Limited, one of Pakistan’s largest producers of packaged spice mixes, says Saudi Arabia and the Middle East are a “key focus area” for expansion, a top official at the company said this week, adding that it had already captured 65 percent of the market in the United Arab Emirates.
Shan Foods has a presence in more than 75 countries currently. It was founded in 1981 by Sikander Sultan who along with his wife started making spice mixes at home. The spices became popular and formed a loyal fan-base both at home and with Pakistanis who had moved to Arab countries, Europe, US and Canada.
“So, it [Middle East] is one of our key focus areas, it’s a key focus market for us because there is a huge South Asian population that lives in Saudi Arabia and then the Arab consumers are also familiar with our food and the kind of food that we eat,” Sammer Sultan, the co-chairperson of Shan Foods, said in an interview to Arab News.
“They’re very exposed to it. So, it’s definitely one of the core areas of focus for us, and we want to grow our business there. UAE specifically is one of our biggest regions already in terms of our sales values.”
When asked about the size of Shan Foods in the Middle Eastern market, she replied:
“It would be difficult for me to give you a number like that, but we’ve had exponential growth. If I were to compare from 20 years ago, it’s probably 100x by now. So, what we were selling maybe 20 years ago, we’re selling 100 times that now. So it’s been phenomenal.”
PARTNERSHIP WITH SYMRISE
Shan Foods last year partnered with Symrise AG, a German manufacturer of food flavorings, to establish Symrise’s first-ever production facility in Pakistan, aiming to localize Shan’s supply chain and strengthen its position within the local and global food industries.
Since 2005, Symrise has seen double-digit growth year on year with its partners across the Middle East and Pakistan region.
Sultan said the joint venture would not only facilitate Shan Foods and Symrise but also benefit businesses and consumers within the larger framework.
“The whole objective of import substitution is that you are trying to bring in something that is locally available instead of trying to import it to the country,” she said, pointing out that many of Shan Foods’ raw materials were currently sourced from abroad.
“We are not fully local in the sense that a lot of our inputs are coming in from abroad and that’s the process that we are working collaboratively with Symrise to figure out, how do we localize all our supply to Pakistan,” Sultan added.
“That is something that ties in with Shaan’s sustainability goals as well because we also want to localize the top 10 raw materials that we’re using in our spices because, you see, logistics, wars, there’s so many factors that come into play when the global supply chain gets affected.”
Also, with rising inflation and cost pressures on businesses, localizing key raw materials decreased prices and benefited consumers, Sultan said.
“They get to pay a lower price,” she explained, “or at least every year the price doesn’t go up as much because we are localizing the raw materials and input.”
