KARACHI: Police have registered a First Information Report (FIR) in the brutal mob lynching of Laeeq Ahmed near Hashoo Centre in Saddar, Karachi. The case, filed under murder and anti-terrorism laws, names 15 individuals and includes additional unidentified suspects involved in the deadly assault.
The FIR was lodged at Preedy Police Station by the victim’s cousin, Naeem, two days after the incident, which occurred on April 18. According to the complaint, Laeeq was attacked by a large group using batons, fists, kicks, and stones, sustaining critical injuries that led to his death at Civil Hospital.
FIR Describes Coordinated Attack
The FIR outlines a violent, coordinated mob assault, with video footage circulating on social media capturing the brutality and identifying many of the perpetrators. The complainant states that a large crowd actively participated in and followed the attack, escalating the violence.
15 Individuals Named in FIR
The case names 15 suspects: Abdul Qadir Patel, Muhammad Saleem, Muhammad Nauman, Muhammad Irfan, Muhammad Shahid, Ghulam Akbar, Muhammad Shehbaz, Muhammad Mubeen, Inayat ur Rehman, Riaz Raza, Yasar Ikhtiyari, Ilyas Pardesi, Riaz Ahmed, another Inayat ur Rehman, and Hamza Ashrafi. Additional suspects are yet to be identified from available video evidence.
Victim Was a Court Witness, Received Threats
According to the FIR, Laeeq Ahmed had appeared in court a day prior to his killing, on April 17, as a witness in a legal case involving several of the accused. It is alleged that he received direct death threats during the court appearance, suggesting premeditation in the subsequent attack.
Case Includes Anti-Terrorism and Murder Charges
Authorities have invoked serious provisions of the Pakistan Penal Code related to murder, alongside sections of the Anti-Terrorism Act (ATA), indicating the state’s recognition of the crime’s public and deliberate nature aimed at spreading fear and chaos.
Investigation Status Remains Unclear
Despite the gravity of the case, SP Investigation South Ali Hassan has not commented on the investigation’s progress, despite multiple inquiries. Meanwhile, civil society groups and human rights activists have called for urgent arrests and swift justice.
Police are expected to begin identifying additional suspects using footage from the scene. Further developments are anticipated as the investigation unfolds.
