Over 30 citizens killed in Karachi by robbers in five months, police data shows

Police data reveals that 33 people have been killed by robbers in Karachi over the past five months, with 23 cases solved and 10 still under investigation, said SSP Mohammed Shoaib Memon of the Special Investigation Unit (SIU), Dawn newspaper reported.

He disputed independent reports claiming 47 fatalities, stating the official figure is lower. The SIU’s detection rate for street crimes stands at 70 percent, and no arrested street criminals were granted bail last year.

SSP Memon acknowledged that the absence of drug courts has allowed narcotics suspects to secure bail. However, the Sindh cabinet recently decided to establish drug courts to handle narcotics cases. The SIU has targeted narcotics smuggling, dismantling gangs trafficking weed from California and Iran.

In June 2024, two suspects were arrested for the killing of a citizen during a robbery in Mominabad. In the case involving actor Sahir Hasan, the accused was granted bail due to the lack of drug courts, although no relief was given in the charge sheet. Three accused, including a bank manager, remain at large.