Three Karachi police officers were suspended and demoted for mishandling the investigation into the kidnapping and murder of 23-year-old Mustafa Amir. The victim was abducted from Defence Housing Authority (DHA) on January 6, and his family received a ransom call two weeks later. The case’s poor handling has raised concerns over police professionalism.
Arrests and Discovery of the Body
During the investigation, police arrested a suspect, Armaghan, after a shootout. He claimed that Amir had been murdered by his friends. Shortly after, another suspect, Shavez Bukhari, was presented to the court for interrogation.
On January 12, an unidentified body was found in a torched car in Hub. The Balochistan police handed the body over to the Edhi Foundation for burial, and it was laid to rest in Karachi on January 16.
Disciplinary Actions Taken
Deputy Inspector General (DIG) South, Syed Asad Raza, confirmed that three officers failed to make any significant breakthroughs and were suspended. Station House Officer Abdul Rasheed Pathan and Station Investigation Officer Zulfiqar Ahmed from Darakhshan police station were demoted to assistant sub-inspectors. Additionally, Investigation Officer ASI Iftikhar Ahmed was demoted to head constable. All three officers were transferred to headquarters for daily roll call, pending further inquiry.
Read: Karachi Youth Kidnapped and Killed by Friends, Police Reveal
Allegations of Incompetence
In a social media video, the victim’s mother accused SSP Investigation Ali Hassan of “victim-blaming” and inaction for 20 days. DIG South acknowledged the accusations and promised an inquiry.
Investigation Challenges
Inspector General of Police (IGP) Sindh, Ghulam Nabi Memon, explained the initial investigation’s setbacks. The victim did not carry a cell phone but used data calls, which police lacked the equipment to trace. Initially, police suspected that Amir might have been taken by security agencies due to a previous drug-related case.
The family received the ransom call late, which Memon suggested was a deliberate move by the suspects to mislead investigators. By the time the case was transferred to the Anti-Violent Crime Cell (AVCC), Amir had already been killed.
Efforts to Solve the Case
After the murder, the suspects fled to Lahore and then Skardu. One suspect returned to Karachi three days before his arrest, while the other followed two days later. Police encountered further difficulties when a court refused to grant remand for proper interrogation. The police have since filed for a revision in the Sindh High Court.
A new investigation team, led by AVCC SSP Aneel Haider and overseen by CIA DIG Muquddus Haider, has been formed to ensure a thorough probe. The team will work under the guidance of Sindh’s prosecutor general for better results.
IG Memon urged the victim’s family to cooperate with investigators. He emphasized that the suspended officers were demoted due to unprofessional conduct and assured the public that efforts would continue to bring the culprits to justice.
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