Surge in street crime casts dark pall over once vibrant streets of Karachi: judge

A sessions court has dismissed the post-arrest bail application of three alleged muggers in a case pertaining to killing a citizen over resisting robbery bid in Manghopir.

Muhammad Khan, Umair Khan and Mehtab Khan have been charged with shooting to death Ameer Jan for putting up resistance during their mugging bid within the jurisdiction of the Peerabad police station in 2023.

Additional Sessions Judge (West) Sohail Ahmed Mashori dismissed their application seeking post-arrest bail in the case after hearing arguments from both sides.

He observed that there were reasonable grounds to believe that applicants/accused were involved in the commission of alleged offence, which is punishable with death or imprisonment for life.

“The courtroom echoes with the silent cries of a city gripped by fear and sorrow. The surge of crimes like these casts a dark pall over the once vibrant streets of Karachi, leaving its inhabitants to wander through the shadows of uncertainty and dread,” he said. “It is evident from the material available on record that the applicants/accused stands charged with the heinous crime of murder.”

The judge ruled that reasonable ground exists to believe that the accused are connected with the offence; therefore, they don’t deserve the concession of bail at this stage.

State prosecutor Muhammad Ashraf Qaiser stated that the accused were arrested by the police on November 17, 2023. A licensed pistol was seized from the possession of accused Umair Khan, he said, adding that the accused confessed to their alleged involvement in the crime. He said the accused had chased the victim after he withdrew cash from a bank in the Manghopir area and intercepted him near Islamia Colony. The prosecutor mentioned that the accused shot and killed the victim for resisting their mugging bid and sped away on motorcycles with the cash.

He said one witness had identified Mehtab Khan and Muhammad Khan before the magistrate during an identification parade, testifying that Mehtab fired gunshot at the victim while Mohammad Khan rode the motorbike.

On the other hand, the applicants’ lawyer contended that his clients were neither nominated in the FIR, nor were they arrested from the crime scene. He said no specific role had been assigned to them either, due to which their case warranted further inquiry.

An FIR was lodged under Section 302 (murder), 392 (punishment for robbery), 397 (robbery or dacoity, with attempt to cause death or grievous hurt), and 34 (common intention) of the Pakistan Penal Code.