Young man killed by muggers over ‘empty pockets’ in Karachi

In a tragic incident, a 20-year-old man was shot and killed in Karachi’s Bhains Colony on the second day of the New Year after muggers found nothing to steal from him.

According to police, the victim, identified as Athar, was shot by robbers and succumbed to his injuries while being rushed to the hospital.

Relatives of the deceased revealed that Athar was a resident of Sukkur and owned a cowhouse in Bhains Colony. He had been married just a year ago, adding to the devastating nature of the loss.

Speaking to the media at Jinnah Hospital, Shaukat, Athar’s maternal uncle, recounted the incident.

He explained that Athar and his companion, Najam, were riding a motorcycle near Bhains Colony’s Street No 10 when two unidentified men on another motorcycle intercepted them.

The assailants searched both men, but when they found nothing, they shot Athar in the chest and fled the scene.

At least 106 people in Karachi fell victim to robberies in 2024. In January, 12 people were killed in the city. February saw another 20 lives claimed by robbers. In March, 17 people, including Major Sheikh Saad, were killed during a robbery despite a police writ petition.

In April, 19 people were killed while resisting robbery attempts. Police intensified encounters and arrests. While the number of murders decreased, they did not cease entirely.

In the following three months (May, June, and July), 15 people were killed by robbers. In August, the killings continued, with 5 citizens losing their lives. September saw a tragic escalation with the deaths of 2 policemen and 8 citizens, including several workers.

In October, the violence continued with the loss of five lives, including a policeman. November saw the tragic deaths of three people, including a former security official.

In December, four citizens were killed by robbers while resisting their attempts.