Police arrest man for killing Afghan boy over Rs25 dispute in Karachi

Accused shot 15-year-old Noor Agha for asking to be paid compensation for cleaning apartment

KARACHI: The police arrested on Tuesday a man accused of killing an Afghan teenager over reportedly demanding Rs25 for house cleaning services in Karimabad neighborhood two days ago.

Fifteen-year-old Afghan sweeper boy, Noor Agha, was shot dead by Ayaz Malik Jeewa, who is said to be an American national of Pakistani origin. The boy was allegedly shot after he reportedly demanded Rs25 after washing the stairs of the building.

District Central SSP Muqaddas Haider told The Express Tribune that the suspect was apprehended from near Jinnah International Airport, after the police got a tip-off that the accused might try to escape from the country. He was hiding in a guest house near the airport and had booked a flight to Dubai, the SSP said. "A successful lead was obtained when he exchanged foreign currency from a local outlet," the officer said.



According to the police, initial interrogation suggests that the middle-aged suspect is short-tempered. The accused was divorced and lived with his son at the flat. "Neighbours have told the police that the accused used to take out his pistol almost every time during altercations", the SSP said, adding that a considerable amount of foreign currency was also seized from his possession that corroborated the fact that he intended to flee the country to escape murder trial.

Noor, along with his brother, Umar, and others collected garbage from the apartment building and charged the residents for the services. According to the police, the deceased lived in a slum near Sohrab Goth.

On the fateful day, Noor was accompanied by one of his companions, as they washed the staircase of Jeewa's flat. The victim reportedly had an argument with the suspect over service charges that angered the accused, who fired at him and fled, leaving him in a pool of blood at the doorstep. The boy was taken to Abbasi Shaheed Hospital where the doctors pronounced him dead on arrival.



A case was registered under section 302 (premeditated murder) of the Pakistan Penal Code, 1860 on the complaint of the victim's brother at Azizabad police station.