The government response to the SOS calls for lasting peace in crime-ridden Northern Sindh has lately caused a temporary thaw in criminality. But it remains to be seen whether the lull lasts and whether the much-touted surrender policy and Nijat-e-Mehran constitute a proportionate response that effectively addresses the deeply entrenched and complex criminal dynamics in Northern Sindh - or merely become another addition to a litany of long-failed operations.

For decades, Northern Sindh adjoining the katcha area has largely remained anarchic, housing criminals and organised gangs. In recent years, however, these areas have increasingly turned rogue, with criminals kidnapping, torturing, killing and extorting people at will. Districts such as Kashmore, Shikarpur, Ghotki and Jacobabad have earned notoriety. Street crimes and highway robberies have compounded the situation, affecting lives and socioeconomic activities with impunity. For instance, the 2024 HRCP fact-finding report notes that lawlessness has........

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