KARACHI: The Karachi police on Monday arrested Salman Farooqi, the main suspect in a violent assault case, along with his driver and armed guard, following the viral spread of a video showing a citizen being beaten in the city’s Defence Housing Authority (DHA).
The incident occurred on Khayaban-e-Ittehad road after a minor accident involving a luxury car and a bike rider who was accompanied by a woman. In the video that circulated widely on social media, Farooqi, reportedly traveling in a luxury vehicle, is seen physically assaulting the bike rider while the woman, believed to be the victim’s sister, pleads with him to stop the violence.
Karachi South Deputy Inspector General (DIG) Syed Asad Raza confirmed Farooqi’s arrest from DHA and said his vehicle was impounded. He further stated that earlier police had conducted late-night raids on Farooqi’s home and office in DHA, leading to the arrest of his driver and guard.
DIG Raza clarified that Farooqi is not a government employee and that the police were trying to contact the victim’s family, as no formal complaint had yet been filed by the assaulted citizen.
Meanwhile, Gizri police registered a First Information Report (FIR) against Salman Farooqi, his armed guard, and driver. The FIR was filed on the complaint of Mohammad Saleem, who identified himself as a cell manager at a cellular company.
The FIR invokes multiple sections of the Pakistan Penal Code (PPC), including Section 354 for assault or criminal force to a woman with intent to outrage her modesty, and Section 506-B for threats to cause death or grievous hurt. Additional charges include Section 34 for acts done by several persons in furtherance of common intention, Section 342 for wrongful confinement, and Section 504 for intentional insult with intent to provoke breach of peace.
According to the complaint, Saleem stated that he had gone to Ittehad Commercial at around 8:35pm on Sunday for recovery when the minor accident occurred between the bike rider and Farooqi’s Land Cruiser.
Saleem alleged that Farooqi forcibly held the bike rider hostage at gunpoint inside his vehicle, subjected him to physical beating, used abusive language, and issued threats. The woman accompanying the victim reportedly pleaded with Farooqi to stop, but he pushed her back contemptuously.
DIG Raza stressed that the police were treating the issue with utmost seriousness and had launched a full investigation. He asserted that no individual is above the law and vowed to ensure “complete justice” for the victim. “The suspects involved in the torture would be brought to justice, and all requirements of justice would be fulfilled. The law is equal for all, and there is no exception,” he added.
Following the incident, Sindh Home Minister Ziaul Hasan Lanjar and Karachi Additional Inspector General (IG) Javed Alam Odho directed the South Senior Superintendent of Police (SSP) to submit a detailed report on the case. They also ordered immediate action against the culprits, emphasizing that no one is above the law.
SSP Karachi South Mahzoor Ali confirmed that the case came to police attention through social media and reiterated that no formal complaint had been lodged so far. He identified Farooqi as the CEO of Bionic Films, an advertising company. Both Farooqi and his guard are accused of taking the law into their own hands by assaulting the citizen.
This incident has caused public outrage online, with many demanding swift and firm legal action against the perpetrators. The police raids to apprehend the suspect were conducted at multiple locations following the viral circulation of the video.
The case follows previous road rage incidents in the country. Notably, in March, armed guards of a private security company reportedly fired shots at a car rider at the Dharampura Underpass in Lahore, assaulted him, and fled the scene, abandoning a vehicle and weapons.
In October of last year, three men were arrested over their alleged involvement in assaulting women during a dispute at a restaurant in Karachi’s DHA; they were later granted bail.
The Karachi police continue their investigation into the DHA assault case, underscoring their commitment to uphold the rule of law and ensure justice is served.
