DIG orders inquiry after viral video shows suspected robbery attempt on Karachi bridge

KARACHI: East Deputy Inspector General (DIG) Dr Farrukh Ali on Sunday ordered an inquiry after a video, said to show an armed robbery attempt on a bridge in Karachi’s Shah Faisal Colony, circulated widely on social media.

According to a police statement, the DIG directed the senior superintendents of police for Korangi and Malir to investigate the incident and register a first information report. The video includes a man saying that 10-12 robbers were looting commuters on the bridge late at night.

The statement quoted DIG Ali as saying “Shah Faisal Bridge is an important public thoroughfare“ and said “he had ordered immediate additional police deployment and patrolling at the location to stop such incidents from recurring.”

He was further quoted as saying “Protecting the life and property of the citizens and taking action against elements involved in breaching peace without any … is the police’s priority.”

Malir police version

Separately, Malir police said in a statement that no citizen was robbed in the incident, which they said occurred within the limits of Sharafi Goth police station, because of what they described as timely action by law enforcers.

According to the statement, a small number of individuals carrying sticks reached the scene and tried to accost citizens. It said Sharafi Goth police were already deployed at their assigned positions and moved quickly after the suspects appeared.

The statement said police chased the suspects, who escaped by taking advantage of the darkness.

Malir police claimed, “due to the timely action of the police, the attempted crime by unidentified suspects was foiled, and no citizen was robbed”

In a joint statement, lawmakers of the Muttahida Qaumi Movement-Pakistan (MQM-P) in the Sindh Assembly voiced serious concern over the incident. They alleged that the episode was the result of the Sindh government’s

The MQM-P legislators said “none of Karachi’s streets or roads is safe from the criminals, and the armed robbers not only loot the citizens but they also kill them over resistance”

They also accused the provincial government and police of maintaining over street crime, adding that when authorities shield dacoits, people are forced to act for their own protection.

In a separate statement, Jamaat-i-Islami Karachi chief Munim Zafar Khan called on the authorities to immediately arrest those responsible.

The incident drew attention after the video spread online, prompting the inquiry order and renewed criticism from opposition parties over law and order in Karachi