Police detain 50 suspects during overnight raids in Karachi

Workers of MQM-Pakistan, MQM-London, PPP and PSP among arrested suspects

KARACHI: In a bid to catch the knifeman, police have sped up its operations and detained around 50 suspects. For the first time, suspects, belonging to different political parties, are also among the detainees.

The overnight operations were carried out in parts of District East, including Gulshan-e-lqbal, Gulistan-e-Jauhar, Sharae Faisal, Aziz Bhatti, PIB Colony and New Town.

Officials said the police have also detained workers of different political parties, including Muttahida Qaumi Movement (MQM) - Pakistan, MQM-London, Pakistan Peoples Party (PPP) and Pak Sarzameen Party (PSP).



Police said that most of the suspects were released after initial investigations. "We detained some 50 suspects," confirmed District East SSP Samiullah Soomro. "Some 27 suspects have so far been released after initial interrogations."

SSP Soomro said that 50% of the detainees belonged to political parties, adding that the police took action, particularly against political workers, after receiving intelligence about their alleged involvement.

Meanwhile, the families of the detainees staged a protest against the arrests of their loved ones. A large number of relatives of the detainees staged a protest outside the Gulshan-e-lqbal police station and demanded the immediate release of the suspects.



So far, at least 13 women have been injured in several incidents in parts of District East, including Gulistan-e-Jauhar, Dalmia, Rashid Minhas Road, Pehlwan Goth and PIB Colony while a dozen cases have been registered since the stabbing incidents started on September 25.

The police have issued the suspect's picture with brief details multiple times, seeking help from citizens to capture the attacker, as well as announcing reward money of Rs1 million for anyone who helps the police trace and arrest the suspect.

Apart from District East, at least two similar incidents of women being stabbed have also occurred in District Central where the police have deployed at least 25 female police personnel in the district to protect women and arrest the 'knifeman'.



Meanwhile, police have lost hope with the already arrested prime suspect, Waseem, who is in the custody of Sahiwal police as police investigators said that they did not find anything so far that could confirm his involvement in the stabbing of women in Karachi.