KARACHI — Police have arrested a man accused of opening fire on citizens who were protesting the death of a young motorcyclist struck by a dumper truck in Karachi’s Garden area earlier this week.
According to South Deputy Inspector General (DIG) Syed Asad Raza, the suspect identified as one of the gunmen of Liaquat Mehsud, president of the All Dumper Truck Owners Association was taken into custody on Wednesday. The officer said that the firearm used in the shooting had also been recovered, while efforts are ongoing to apprehend Mehsud himself.
The arrest follows violent scenes on Tuesday when enraged residents torched a dumper truck after it fatally hit 23-year-old Shahzeb Shahid and injured his wife, Misbah, who had been traveling with him on a motorcycle. The tragic incident sparked widespread anger in the area, leading to clashes and gunfire allegedly from Mehsud’s associates.
Police have registered a case against Mehsud and several others for their alleged involvement in the firing that took place during the protest. “Raids are being conducted to arrest the president of the dumpers association, Liaquat Mehsud,” DIG Raza confirmed in a statement.
Ex-MQM-P Lawmaker Booked for Threatening Dumper Association Head
In a separate development, Garden police have filed a case against former Muttahida Qaumi Movement-Pakistan (MQM-P) lawmaker Kamran Farooqi for allegedly threatening Liaquat Mehsud through a social media post.
The first information report (FIR), registered on behalf of the state, invokes the Prevention of Electronic Crimes Act (PECA) along with Section 506-B of the Pakistan Penal Code (criminal intimidation involving threats of death or serious harm).
According to the FIR, Assistant Sub-Inspector (ASI) Rao Muhammad Shahrukh stated that he came across a video on social media on November 4, around 6 p.m., in which Farooqi could be seen saying:
“This wretched person was lucky to have escaped a few moments earlier otherwise he would have been burned along with his vehicle. This is a public reaction.”
The ASI said that the post accompanying the video carried a similar message, implying that Mehsud narrowly avoided harm during the unrest. He noted that two separate FIRs had already been registered at Garden Police Station in connection with the original accident and subsequent violence.
The complainant alleged that Farooqi’s remarks amounted to incitement and intimidation, claiming that his statement spread “mischief” on social media and threatened the head of the dumper association. Police have launched further investigation into the case.
