Except for a few, the story of being mugged started out as frightening but ended up as purely bizarre. Among the muggers who prowl the city looking for easy targets, there also exist a few ‘fairy god muggers’ who do not appear to have wings but possess (somewhat of) a heart.
Waiting at a traffic light opposite a busy supermarket in Bahadurabad, brothers Ibrahim and Hasan Ahmed* were sitting in their car with the doors locked and the windows all rolled up. Soon enough they got a gun glued to the right-side window. Realising the precarious situation they were in, Ibrahim handed over his phone. Hasan handed a cover-up phone, one that he kept for this kind of an emergency. The man with the gun got agitated and asked for the ‘real’ one. With flashing speed, Ibrahim handed over the spare phone, his watch and wallet. The two muggers got into conversation, as one looked down at the valuables in his palms. After a quick debate, one of them knocked at the window and returned all the belongings. So unrobber-like, to say the least.
In another instance, Rashid Qureshi*, a tailor who worked at Tariq Road was asked to hand over his cell phone. He did not have any. “When I told the muggers I didn’t have a phone to hand over due to a recent mugging, they handed me a phone instead.” It was unbelievable. He was given the option to select for himself a phone from a bag that held nearly 50 snatched cell phones.
Another Karachiite, Karim*, had his wallet snatched at gunpoint. One of the robbers saw that the fuel meter of his car showed ‘empty’ so they handed him 400 rupees to get some petrol filled.
I do not mean to glorify the criminals; I just want to hold the mirror to the dismal state of affairs in the mega city. After all, this is a piece about being grateful for criminals not committing a crime.
Published in The Express Tribune, November 1st, 2013.
COMMENTS (20)
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I lost my NIC in one such incident only to get it back via Pakistan Post a few days later. All is not lost I guess..
This us just representing something which happens once in a blue moon. Well something things go really bad and persons get shot for not having a cell phone. Really pretty. Happened with me. This article is nothing but an orthodox dear.
They sound more like spies than robbers. This is an easy way to check identity of any person and maybe see if he possesses some special ID cards and all.
Karachi I guess got what it voted for
Wondering if there is any mugger who actually washed you car and gave you massage after giving you stress? Come on ET! by sharing such things you are creating sympathies for the muggers. After reading this, don't expect that you'll also find a nice and ethical mugger .These 'fairy god muggers' would mug and can shoot you as well.
If any of the mugger or potential mugger has read this piece then please learn something from these 'fairy god muggers' LOL!
The rulers, the law enforcers and the judicial system are responsible for this lawlessness. Each and every criminal who robs should have his hand cut off, the Police SHO in whose area the robbery happened should have his hand cut off, the Court Judge in whose Jurisdiction this crime happened should have his hand cut off and the Political MP in whose constituency this crime occurred should have his hand cut off. If all this was really done, crime will come to ZERO. Mark my words.
Btw the author should not target only Karachi...all cities and even smaller towns in Pakistan have extremely high crime levels. Sad.
The mere thought of being mugged sends a chill down my spine :'(
Well, its hardly surprising, considering how well the criminals in Pakistan are doing they can afford to be generous...
robbers returned my ID card after stealing my wallet
Oh come on! Is this a joke? Please don't glorify criminal gangs....
Glad to know that they've developed somewhat of a heart after snatching peoples hard earned money. Could you also please let us know where the other incidents took place just so we know where the fairy zones are.
That awkward moment when you are praying that your muggers might actually give you something better than they are about to take.
fantastic!
I have a similiar incident to report. My husband and I were at a busy signal near PECHS. A robber knocked on our door and showed us a gun asking us to hand over our things. My husband's window was jammed so he reluctantly opened the car door. Perhaps hoping not to draw too much attention (if we handed over our stuff via the door) or because he changed his mind, the robber signalled to us to go ahead. We could not believe that for a moment. When we finally understood he was really letting us go, we said thanks and the robber responded by nodding his head and accepting our greeting. It was relief that things did not spiral out of control and I am still grateful to that robber.
Without a prosperous Karachi we can never have prosperous Pakistan. InsAllah under the guidance of Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif we will swipe this city clean of all criminal elements. It will take time but prosperity and peace will indeed return to this great city of ours. The targeted operation is underway and will hopefully succeed, but in case doesn't the Federal Government will be there to use all of its might to clean up Karachi and I am confident it will triumph.
Always hope for the best and remember the Prophet's (PBUH) saying "truth is victorious and falsehood has perished because falsehood by its nature is bound to perish."
It will be great if only the robbers give back the SIM and identity cards.