Shopkeeper killed in jewellery market heist

Eight armed robbers on four bikes loot gold from three shops; traders stage protest

KARACHI:

In a brazen daylight robbery in the Korangi No2 area, armed bandits looted gold worth millions of rupees from three jewellery shops and opened fire during the heist, killing a young jeweller and injuring a passerby woman.

According to police and witnesses, around eight robbers came riding on four motorcycles with their faces covered and caps pulled low. They targeted three shops - Faryal Zargar, Al-Aziz Jewellers, and Kiran Jewellers - looting gold at gunpoint. During the heist, 32-year-old Abdul Mateen, son of the general secretary of the Jewellers Market, Abdul Muqeem, tried to resist and was shot multiple times. A 62-year-old pedestrian woman, Sabri Rafiq, was also hit by gunfire.

Both victims were rushed to Jinnah Hospital, where Abdul Mateen later succumbed to his injuries. He had sustained three bullet wounds and lost critical blood, doctors confirmed.

Abdul Mateen was due to be married in two months.

A third victim, believed to be an accomplice of the robbers who sustained injuries, was carried away by the gang during their escape through narrow market alleys. CCTV footage later surfaced showing five of the robbers fleeing on three motorcycles with weapons visible in hand.

The incident sparked intense outrage among shopkeepers, who shut down their businesses in protest, blocked roads, and set tires on fire, causing traffic disruptions. The traders demanded the immediate arrest of the culprits and better police deployment in jewellery markets.

Protesters slammed law enforcement, asking, "When will the government act? How many more lives must be lost before Karachi is made safe?" They highlighted that Karachi contributes the most revenue to the country, yet traders receive no protection in return. One protester lamented, "The gold can be earned again, but who will bring back the life of a young man ready to begin a new chapter?"

The market's security camera system had been disabled at the time due to a power outage, leaving no real-time footage of the robbery. Traders demanded that the government improve market security, restore electricity backups for surveillance systems, and recover the stolen gold.

Police said efforts are underway to identify and arrest the suspects through CCTV footage and other leads. SHO Korangi Adeel Afzal stated, "We are gathering information on the quantity of stolen gold and hope to apprehend the culprits soon."

This marks the 51st death in Karachi this year resulting from robberies during resistance — a staggering number, even as police claim a 50% reduction in street crimes.