DHA Assault Case
In a significant development in the widely publicized DHA assault case in Karachi, a local court granted a two-day physical remand of the two primary suspects, including Salman Farooqi, who was caught on camera violently attacking a motorcyclist.
The suspects were produced before Judicial Magistrate South Mazmil Ali Soomro at the City Court by Gizri police, who requested custody for further investigation. The court approved the remand and directed the police to submit a progress report at the next hearing.
Salman Farooqi, a well-known businessman, and his accomplice were arrested after a video of the brutal incident went viral on social media. In the footage, Farooqi is seen assaulting a motorcyclist following a minor collision in the Defence Housing Authority (DHA) area. The public outrage over the video pushed law enforcement agencies to act swiftly.
During the court proceedings, Farooqi was asked to identify his legal representative, and he named Naeem Qureshi. However, due to the lawyer’s initial absence, the hearing was briefly adjourned for 10 minutes.
Upon reconvening, Qureshi submitted a pre-arrest bail plea on behalf of his client, arguing that the charges — including issuing threats — were bailable offenses under the law.
In their preliminary report, police stated that the complainant, Muhammad Saleem, a sales manager at a mobile phone company, had visited Ittehad Commercial for a business-related task when he witnessed a minor accident involving a motorcycle and a car.
Farooqi, allegedly driving the car, reacted violently, physically assaulted the young motorcyclist, and, along with his security guard, forced him into their vehicle. According to the report, Farooqi also verbally abused and pushed one of the women who tried to intervene.
Eyewitnesses captured the incident on video, which quickly spread on social media and provoked public condemnation. The footage played a crucial role in the prompt arrest of the suspects.
Following the court hearing, the situation grew tense as several lawyers shouted slogans like “Beat them, beat them” while the accused were being escorted out.
In the chaos, police officers had to rush the suspects out of the courtroom for their safety. During the commotion, one of the lawyers reportedly slapped Salman Farooqi, further intensifying the drama surrounding the case.
The incident has sparked renewed public discourse about the misuse of power, the role of private security personnel, and the urgent need for accountability, especially when the perpetrators are influential individuals. The case remains under investigation, with more developments expected in the coming days.
