A young man was gunned down in a suspected targeted attack in the city’s Korangi area on Tuesday, while an elderly resident was kidnapped from the Saudabad neighborhood in Malir, deepening concerns over the city’s deteriorating law and order. The victim in Korangi, identified as 22-year-old Hamza, was intercepted by two unidentified gunmen on a motorcycle.
Witnesses told police the attackers fired multiple shots at close range before fleeing into the dense neighborhood streets.
Hamza died before reaching the hospital. Investigators describe the incident as a fallout of a long-standing personal enmity, though they have yet to file a formal case against the suspects. Hours later, residents of Saudabad reported a separate, alarming incident.
Armed men in a black vehicle intercepted 65-year-old Ghulam Abbas as he walked home from a local market. Bystanders said the abduction was swift and professional.
The kidnappers forced the man into their car and sped toward the National Highway, leaving behind a neighborhood in shock.
“It happened in broad daylight,” said one shopkeeper who witnessed the kidnapping but asked to remain anonymous for fear of retaliation. “Nobody tried to stop them because they were armed and clearly knew what they were doing.
” Police officials in Malir confirmed they are reviewing CCTV footage from nearby businesses to identify the vehicle’s license plate.
The family of the abducted man has denied any known business rivalries or personal feuds, adding a layer of mystery to the motive behind the kidnapping.
The dual incidents have reignited criticism of the Karachi police’s inability to curb street crime and targeted violence. While the city’s top brass often points to increased patrolling, the frequency of these attacks suggests that criminal elements remain emboldened. For the families involved, the lack of immediate arrests in both cases is a bitter reality.
As the investigation enters its second day, the police have yet to provide a timeline for the recovery of the kidnapped man or the capture of the gunmen responsible for the killing in Korangi.
