A Growing Safety Concern
Residents along the Choak Pindori to Nara Matore road, commonly known as the Tourism Highway, are raising urgent concerns over a sharp increase in robbery and street crime in the area. Over the past month, a gang of armed men riding a 125cc motorcycle has targeted commuters at gunpoint and with sharp weapons across several nearby villages, including Bhura Hayal, Thoha Khalsa, Matore, and Nara.
What's Been Happening
According to residents, the incidents have followed a clear and troubling pattern. In one recent case, a woman traveling through Matore had her mobile phone snatched. Some time earlier, a shopkeeper in Bhura Hayal named Shaban Mani was robbed. Just yesterday, near Chhowail Ara, two armed young men on a 125cc motorcycle attempted to rob another commuter using a sharp weapon.
Residents say the stretch of road between Bhura Hayal and Thoha Khalsa has seen between five and six separate armed robbery incidents after sunset in recent weeks alone.
Traveling After Dark Has Become Genuinely Risky
Locals report that traveling this route after Maghrib prayers has become a serious risk for anyone using the road, whether on foot, by motorcycle, or by car. The consistent pattern, armed men on a single motorcycle, striking after dark, along the same general stretch of road, suggests a specific gang operating repeatedly in the area rather than isolated incidents.
Community Response and Appeal to Police
Residents of the area have appealed directly to the Rawalpindi CPO and local police to increase patrolling on the Tourism Highway and to move quickly to identify and arrest those responsible, in order to protect the lives and property of everyone who uses this road regularly.
Safety Advice for Residents and Travelers
Until the situation improves, residents are being urged to take a few precautions:
Avoid unnecessary travel on this route after Maghrib, particularly alone.
Stay alert to anyone acting suspiciously, especially motorcyclists loitering or slowing near vehicles.
Report any suspicious individuals or activity immediately by calling the police helpline at 15.
Where possible, travel in groups or during daylight hours until patrolling in the area increases.
A Shared Responsibility
Safety on shared roads like this one depends on both a strong police response and an alert, engaged community. Thoha Khalsa and its neighboring villages have long been known for looking out for one another, and that same spirit of community vigilance is exactly what residents are being asked to bring to this situation, alongside continued pressure on local authorities to restore basic safety to a road that families here rely on every single day.
This report reflects concerns raised directly by residents of the area. If you have additional information about these incidents or updates on police response, please reach out so this page can be kept current and accurate.
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