Karachi Maid
In a startling and bizarre case that has stunned Karachi’s affluent Defence Housing Authority (DHA), a domestic maid named Shehnaz has been arrested for allegedly stealing over Rs50 million from her employer’s residence over the span of 15 years.
The arrest has led to revelations about an astonishingly luxurious lifestyle that starkly contrasts her modest job as a household worker.
Shehnaz, who worked in a bungalow located in the upscale Khayaban-e-Tanzeem area, was reportedly siphoning money from a particular room in the house over the years without raising suspicion. The theft came to light after long-standing discrepancies were investigated by the family and police.
Upon her arrest, Shehnaz confessed to having built a small empire from the stolen wealth. According to investigators, she admitted to owning five cars, three residential flats, and a commercial shop, all funded by the stolen cash. She had also opened a shop for her son and another individual identified as Asif, who is now a co-accused in the case.
Police revealed that Shehnaz lived far beyond the means of an average domestic worker. She often spent her evenings at high-end cafés and frequented luxury shopping malls.
Known for her preference for branded clothing and accessories, she traveled around the city in a vehicle reportedly worth Rs6.5 million. Her bank accounts held approximately Rs4 million, adding further weight to the claims of systematic and long-term theft.
Investigators discovered that Shehnaz had converted her assets into a sustainable income stream. Several of her vehicles were being rented out, providing her with a steady monthly return.
Out of the three flats she owned, two were rented to tenants, boosting her passive income. Additionally, Rs600,000 in cash was recovered from her residence during the police raid.
Law enforcement agencies are now broadening the scope of the investigation to trace the full extent of her assets, including properties that may be located in her native town. Meanwhile, police are on the lookout for other potential accomplices who may have helped her execute the thefts or aided in laundering the stolen money.
This shocking case has not only highlighted a major security lapse within elite households but has also raised concerns about the unchecked wealth accumulation and lack of oversight involving domestic workers in the city.
