Islamabad Registers 1,419 Major Cases in One Year
An Islamabad crime annexure lists 1,550 suspects at large, 771 cases under investigation and hundreds of cases awaiting trial, while inconsistencies in the reported totals raise questions about the accuracy of the compiled statistics.
ISLAMABAD: October 17, 2026: A crime statistics document covering five major categories of offences in the federal capital has highlighted a substantial number of unresolved investigations and suspects yet to be arrested, raising concerns about the progress of criminal investigations and the accuracy of official record-keeping.
According to the summary section of a document titled Annexure-A, covering the year 2026, a total of 1,419 cases were registered under the categories of kidnapping, sexual offences, robbery, car theft and murder.
The document’s summary lists 2,428 nominated accused, of whom 876 were arrested while 1,550 were recorded as still at large.
However, a detailed examination of the document reveals discrepancies between the consolidated figures and the statistics provided for individual crime categories, making official clarification necessary.
Robbery Accounts for Highest Number of Cases
The document identifies robbery, including incidents involving houses and commercial establishments, as the largest category among the five listed offences.
A total of 723 robbery cases were recorded, involving 1,652 nominated accused.
According to the category breakdown, 510 accused were arrested while 1,143 were listed as at large.
The document further shows that 476 robbery cases remained under investigation, while police reports had been submitted in 181 cases. Another 364 cases were listed as under trial, and 65 cases remained untraced.
The substantial number of accused still listed as at large highlights the importance of assessing the progress of investigations, efforts to identify suspects and the effectiveness of follow-up police operations.
Kidnapping Cases and Unresolved Investigations
Kidnapping was the second-largest category, with 491 registered cases involving 438 nominated accused.
Of these, 106 accused were recorded as arrested, while 327 remained at large.
The document shows that 227 kidnapping cases were still under investigation, while police reports had been submitted in 58 cases.
Another 118 cases were recorded as under trial, while 205 cases were listed as cancelled.
The considerable number of cancelled cases requires careful interpretation. Cancellation may result from different legal or investigative circumstances and does not, by itself, establish misconduct or an inadequate investigation.
Nevertheless, the figures raise questions about the reasons for cancellation, the status of victims and the progress made in cases that remain unresolved.
Sexual Offence Cases Involve 254 Nominated Accused
The document records 177 cases under provisions relating to sexual offences, including 254 nominated accused.
According to the breakdown, 168 accused were arrested, while 89 were recorded as at large.
Police reports were submitted in 113 cases, while 59 cases remained under investigation.
The document also lists 125 cases as under trial and five as cancelled.
These figures highlight the importance of timely investigations, survivor protection, evidence collection and coordination between investigators and prosecution authorities.
Murder Cases and Suspects Yet to Be Arrested
The statistics include 74 murder cases registered under Section 302 of the Pakistan Penal Code.
A total of 192 accused were nominated in these cases, with 112 arrests recorded and 80 accused listed as at large.
The document identifies 38 murder cases as under investigation, 35 cases with police reports submitted and 72 cases as under trial.
Although the statistics do not establish when the cases reached their respective legal stages, the number of accused recorded as at large highlights the need for updated information about outstanding arrests and the progress of investigations.
Car Theft Cases and Investigation Status
The report also records 70 car theft cases involving 92 nominated accused.
Of these, 39 were arrested and 52 were listed as at large.
According to the document, 43 cases remained under investigation, police reports were submitted in 21 cases and 24 cases were listed as under trial.
Five cases were recorded as untraced, while one was cancelled.
The car theft category is specifically identified in the annexure under Section 381-A and should not be interpreted as encompassing every category of vehicle or motorcycle theft reported in Islamabad.
Hundreds of Cases Await Further Legal Progress
The summary section of the annexure lists 771 cases as under investigation.
It also identifies 380 cases in which police reports had been submitted, 68 cases marked as untraced, 200 cancelled cases and 610 cases recorded as under trial.
These figures point to a significant workload for investigation teams and prosecution authorities.
However, the document does not specify the exact reporting cut-off date, the duration for which individual investigations have remained pending or whether the under-trial figures overlap with the other procedural categories.
Therefore, the figures alone cannot establish whether particular cases have exceeded legally applicable investigation deadlines.
Discrepancies Found in Compiled Crime Statistics
A numerical review of the annexure identifies several inconsistencies requiring clarification.
While its summary records 1,419 cases, the individual figures for robbery, kidnapping, sexual offences, murder and car theft add up to 1,535 cases — a difference of 116.
Similarly, the document’s five categories collectively list 2,628 nominated accused, compared with the consolidated figure of 2,428.
The individual arrest figures total 935, whereas the summary records 876 arrests. Likewise, the category-wise figures for accused at large add up to 1,691, compared with 1,550 in the summary.
Discrepancies also appear in the investigation and case-status figures. The category entries add up to 843 cases under investigation, against 771 in the summary.
Notably, the kidnapping category alone lists 205 cancelled cases, although the summary records only 200 cancelled cases across all five crime categories.
These differences could reflect compilation errors, differences in reporting periods or another data-reconciliation issue. Their cause cannot be established from the annexure alone.
Police Investigation Performance Under Scrutiny
The figures raise questions about the number of suspects awaiting arrest, the progress of pending investigations and the reconciliation of crime records.
At the same time, the number of nominated accused should not be confused with the number of convicted offenders. Similarly, individuals listed as at large should not automatically be classified as judicially declared absconders without confirmation of their legal status.
A comprehensive assessment of Islamabad Police performance would require updated arrest records, investigation completion rates, case-disposal information and court outcomes.
The annexure also does not provide a comparison with the same period in 2025, meaning that the figures cannot independently establish whether crime in Islamabad has increased or decreased year on year.
The statistics underscore the need for a verified and reconciled account of crime registration, suspect arrests, pending investigations and legal proceedings in the federal capital.
An official clarification from Islamabad Police regarding the discrepancies, the reporting period and the current status of the cases would be necessary to establish a complete and accurate picture of law-enforcement performance.
