Sir: The law and order situation in Karachi is very alarming. Every sort of street crime, including target killings, kidnappings, extortion and mobile snatching are rampant at every nook and corner. It seems that the law enforcement agencies are completely helpless in controlling these incidents. Recently, my cousin experienced a different type of robbery. While travelling in a public bus to a Gulshan-i-Iqbal destination, he was held hostage by three persons. One sitting beside him asked his name. When my cousin declined to respond, he was told that they have been given a task to murder someone, whose features resemble him. My cousin was stunned. Later, he was told that they will show some leniency towards him only if he hands over to them his wallet and cell phone. My cousin obliged him without a second thought. He was so harassed and frightened by now that he silently handed over his belongings to that person. The person took the ATM card out of my cousin’s wallet and enquired about his PIN code, threatening that if the PIN code was found incorrect, his companions sitting behind his seat would kill him in the bus. The person stepped down nearby an ATM machine and after a few minutes, he called on his companions’ mobile phone to release my cousin. My cousin had Rs 20,000 in his account and within a matter of a few minutes, he was empty handed. ADARSH BASHIRIslamabad