KARACHI, PAKISTAN Residents of the Orangi Town neighborhood took justice into their own hands and punished a caught thief in an especially cruel way. They tied him to a pole so he couldn’t escape, lightly poured flammable liquid on him, and set him on fire. Their goal wasn’t to burn him to death, but only to cause him terrible pain.
Cases of so-called street justice are unfortunately still a frequent problem in Pakistan. Even the police themselves often resort to it unofficially. The reasons include historical customs, public distrust of the police, corruption, and the lack of transparency in the justice system. All of this creates an environment in which street justice or unlawful police actions may seem like quick and effective solutions.
The above is simply a statement of reality, but such behavior can never be justified. If you ever find yourself in a similar situation, it’s better to call the police immediately.
