Death of 60-year-old in violent robbery sparks protest

A horrifying incident unfolded near New Sabzi Mandi on Superhighway, where a gang of armed robbers turned violent, resulting in the tragic death of a 60-year-old man and leaving another shopkeeper injured as they resisted the brazen robbery.

SHO Aurangzaib Khattak said that the tragic incident occurred when four suspects, riding on two motorcycles, attempted to rob a tyre shop near New Sabzi Mandi.

In a display of bravery, the 60-year-old shopkeeper, Taj Mohammad, confronted them, leading to a fierce struggle. However, the robbers callously shot Taj in the chest, killing him on the spot. Another shopkeeper, identified as 45-year-old Owais, was also injured during the confrontation. The ruthless culprits fled the scene.

The news of the appalling incident spread like wildfire, igniting a wave of anger and concern among shopkeepers and wholesalers in the area. Fueled by the rising crime rates, the local community took to the streets in protest, demanding justice and an end to the reign of terror in their neighbourhood.

Some protesters set up roadblocks by burning tyres, effectively bringing traffic from Karachi to rural Sindh to a standstill, with long queues of vehicles stranded.

Published in The Express Tribune, July 21^st, 2023.