KARACHI: A man in Karachi has claimed that $850,000 worth of digital currency was stolen from his account after his mobile device was forcibly taken at the city’s airport last month.
The alleged robbery took place on September 30 when Faiz Yab, a resident of Keamari, was traveling to Peshawar. According to his complaint filed in the District and Sessions Court, Malir, two men in plain clothes intercepted him at the airport and took him to an office, where his mobile device, which provided access to his digital currency, was seized. Shortly afterward, he reported that $850,000 was transferred from his account without his authorization.
Despite approaching the airport police, Yab claimed that his complaint was not registered. He wrote to the court, requesting an inquiry into the incident and urging authorities to ensure his safety.
Following his petition, the court ordered SSP Malir to conduct a formal investigation, overseen by a DSP-ranked officer. The police later submitted a sealed report and a USB containing evidence to the court.
In a letter addressed to top jurists, including the Chief Justice of Pakistan, the Sindh High Court Chief Justice, and senior police officials, the victim alleged that he had been unlawfully detained and his digital wallet was accessed during his detainment. He also stated that some of the suspects had contacted him, threatening to destroy the CCTV footage related to the incident.
The victim mentioned that within 48 hours of the event, the airport station house officer (SHO) showed him CCTV clips on a laptop. However, he expressed concerns about potential tampering with the footage and requested the court to ensure that the recordings from the airport’s CCTV system be preserved. The footage, he noted, is stored for 28 to 30 days.
He further requested that the recordings be sent to the trial court and undergo forensic verification by the Punjab Forensic Science Agency (PFSA) or the National Database and Registration Authority’s (Nadra) video laboratory to confirm that no tampering had occurred.
Following the court’s orders, SSP Malir has launched an investigation, with a DSP-ranked officer assigned as the investigating officer. Police confirmed that they would record the victim’s statement on Monday and continue their efforts to resolve the case.
