Hotel owner, staff booked for assaulting on food delivery rider in Karachi

Karachi: Ferozabad police have registered a case against around a dozen people, including a hotel owner and his employees, over the alleged assault of an online food delivery rider and two of his colleagues, according to police.

The case was lodged on the complaint of Muhammad Shehzad, who told police in writing that the incident occurred on May 1 at a hotel near Hill Park Chowrangi on Shaheed-e-Millat Road, where he had gone to collect an order.

In his complaint, Shehzad alleged that the hotel owner, identified as Ali, intentionally delayed handing over the order. He said he objected because delivery riders are allowed only five minutes per delivery.

According to the complaint, the exchange then escalated. Shehzad alleged that the hotel owner became angry and, along with 10 to 11 staff members, attacked him physically. He told police that he was subjected to severe violence, including kicks and punches.

Two other riders also named as victims

Shehzad further stated that two other food delivery riders, Khalid and Saleem, were passing by at the time and saw the alleged assault. When they stepped in, they too were allegedly beaten by the hotel owner and his employees, the complaint said.

Police said the case had been registered against the hotel owner and staff members on the basis of the allegations made in the complaint.

The complainant also alleged that gunshots were fired during the altercation.

The incident, as described in the complaint, took place while Shehzad was performing his delivery duties at the hotel located near Hill Park Chowrangi. The written complaint names the hotel owner as Ali and says that a group of employees was also involved in the alleged attack.

Ferozabad police said the booking of the suspects included the hotel owner and his workers after the allegations by the rider and the two other delivery workers who were said to have intervened during the incident.

No additional details were provided in the report regarding arrests or the specific sections under which the case was registered. The matter, according to police, stems from the complaint submitted by Shehzad over the events of May 1 on Shaheed-e-Millat Road.