Posts in category: Crime & Court

KARACHI: Police in Karachi’s Malir area have arrested an alleged serial rapist accused of sexually assaulting 18 girls.

According to Malir Investigation Police, the suspect was arrested along with three accomplices during an operation.

SP Investigation Majida Parveen said the suspect used social media to trap girls by offering them jobs. She said the main suspect was arrested with three accomplices.

Police said the main suspect, Amir Ali, along with his accomplices, has confessed to sexually assaulting 17 to 18 girls. Police identified his accomplices as Zain, Nauman and Saeed.

SP Investigation Majida Parveen said Amir Ali is a habitual and cunning criminal and was wanted in several robbery and rape cases. She added that a victim identified Amir Ali during an identification parade in court.

Karachi has once again seen a sharp rise in fear among citizens as street crime remains unchecked, with more than 14,000 incidents reported in the first three months of the year and 26 people killed while resisting robberies.

For many residents, stepping out of their homes now comes with the fear of being deprived of their vehicles, mobile phones, cash or other valuables — or even losing their lives during a robbery. Concerns have also grown over armed groups involved in short-term kidnappings, forcing victims to transfer money from their bank accounts.

According to Citizens-Police Liaison Committee figures, 5,125 street crime incidents were reported in January, 4,608 in February and 4,869 in March. Sources said 26 citizens were also killed during robberies when they resisted.

To curb crime, cameras were installed across the city, but suspects have reportedly found ways to evade monitoring. They are now using rented vehicles and changing their number plates before committing crimes.

Police officials, however, claim that if the first three months of the current year are compared with previous years, crime has declined.

While the uncontrolled crime situation in Karachi remains a matter of concern, an even more alarming issue is that most criminals involved in killing citizens during robberies remain outside the reach of the law.

A legal dispute between Pakistani actress Momina Iqbal and Pakistan Muslim League-Nawaz Punjab Assembly member Saqib Chadhar has intensified, as the actress has submitted an application at Chuhng police station seeking registration of a case against the MPA.

Momina Iqbal reached Chuhng police station along with her lawyers, where she filed an application against Saqib Chadhar over allegations of death threats, harassment and blackmail.

A copy of the application has also surfaced. According to the application, Saqib Chadhar proposed marriage to Momina Iqbal in 2022. However, the actress later came to know that the accused had already contracted two marriages, after which she ended contact and her relationship with him.

According to Momina Iqbal, Saqib Chadhar became angry after she ended the relationship and allegedly began harassing her in different ways and issuing death threats.

The application also alleged that Saqib Chadhar’s wife, Sameera, continued to threaten the actress as well.

According to the application, when Momina Iqbal’s marriage was arranged, the accused allegedly tried to blackmail her through AI-generated pictures and videos. Threatening messages were also allegedly sent to the actress’s sister and her fiancé, Hamza.

Momina Iqbal has previously filed an application against Saqib Chadhar with the NCCIA and submitted evidence. She also recorded her written statement yesterday.

According to Chuhng SHO Inspector Faheem Imdad, the application has been received and proceedings for registration of a case are underway.

Director General of the National Cyber Crime Investigation Agency has said that the case involving actress Momina Iqbal will be completed within one or two days after statements from both sides are recorded.

Addressing a press conference in Lahore, the DG NCCIA said the Momina Iqbal case is being handled by the agency’s Lahore office. He said that once statements from both sides are recorded, the case will be completed within one or two days.

He said cases involving women are among the top priorities of the NCCIA.

The DG NCCIA said the agency does not differentiate between the poor and the rich. He added that journalists are very important for everyone and described them as the eyes and ears of society.

He said action would be taken if anyone speaks against the state. According to the DG NCCIA, some boys had been arrested for saying that Swat should be part of Afghanistan.

The DG NCCIA said that if the NCCIA does not take action against those who do not have confidence in the state of Pakistan, then what should it do. He added that the NCCIA has 480 personnel across the country and is working to increase its internal capacity.

Peshawar High Court Chief Justice S.M. Attique Shah has expressed serious concern over the situation in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa, observing that the province of 40 million people is “burning” and there is no one to take notice.

The remarks came during the hearing of a contempt of court petition against the non-implementation of a larger bench’s judgment regarding flaws in the criminal justice system. The case was heard by Chief Justice S.M. Attique Shah and Justice Ijaz Khan.

During the hearing, the chief secretary, advocate general and Khyber Pakhtunkhwa home secretary appeared before the court.

Addressing the chief secretary, the chief justice asked why the larger bench’s decision had not been implemented. He observed that the report submitted by the authorities contained nothing substantial, adding that the court had directed steps to strengthen the prosecution system.

Chief Justice Shah remarked that Khyber Pakhtunkhwa was a province of 40 million people and was facing a serious crisis. He said the southern districts were burning due to terrorism, and it had become impossible to travel to areas such as Dera Ismail Khan, Karak and Tank. He added that he himself had planned to visit Dera Ismail Khan but could not do so because of security concerns.

The chief justice told the chief secretary that he was a senior officer of the province and should know what was happening in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa. He observed that officers of the prosecution department were not going to backward districts, questioning why other officers could not perform duties there when a female judge could serve in those areas.

The chief justice also expressed concern over the lack of DNA testing facilities in the province. He remarked that it was shameful that DNA samples from Khyber Pakhtunkhwa were being sent to Lahore, adding that each DNA test cost Rs1.1 million while the province had no laboratory for such tests.

He said people were facing difficulties and directed the authorities to take steps to reduce their problems. The chief justice warned that if anyone was not performing their duty, the court would order action against them.

Khyber Pakhtunkhwa Chief Secretary Shahab Ali Shah told the court that he should be given two to three weeks and that he would personally look into the matter. He said a report had been prepared and would also be shared with the court.

In response, the chief justice granted one month and directed that officers who were not working should be removed, while competent officers should be appointed. He also said that if there was any political interference, the court should be informed.

The court later adjourned further hearing of the petition until July 1.

Major development has emerged in the high-profile Anmol, also known as Pinky, case, as the investigation team has traced a total of 16 different accounts and submitted details before the Senate Standing Committee on Interior.

According to the report presented to the committee, those named among the money senders include MNA Sadiq Iftikhar, his wife, actor Muneeb Butt, actress Meera, model Sarah and others.

The Karachi-based case, widely referred to as the “Anmol Pinky case,” has drawn attention in political and entertainment circles after sensitive and important documents related to the investigation were presented before the Senate Standing Committee on Interior.

According to the documents, millions of rupees were transferred into accounts linked to Anmol Pinky. The documents named ruling coalition MNA Sadiq Iftikhar, his wife, actor Muneeb Butt, actress Meera and model Sarah among those whose names appeared in connection with the transfers.

The documents stated that around Rs30 million was transacted over the past one and a half years through six different accounts. The investigation team has traced 16 accounts in total.

According to the details submitted to the Senate committee, a total of Rs29.467 million was transferred into six different bank accounts during the last 18 months. The transfers involved 21 women and 117 men.

The documents further stated that Rs8.562 million was transferred into an account of a woman named Basil Amika, while Rs1.65 million was deposited into the account of a person named Sadaqatullah. Another Rs7.75 million was transferred into Hani Furqan’s account, and Rs6.375 million was transferred into the account of Muhammad Sameer.

Similarly, Rs2.78 million was transferred into Zafar Ali’s account, while Rs1 million was transferred into an account named Sky Overseas. According to the investigation, the money transfers were carried out through individuals named Zeeshan and Sohail.

Karachi Police Chief Azad Khan gave a detailed briefing to the Senate committee on the case. He told the committee that names of law enforcement personnel had also surfaced in the Pinky case.

He said five cases were registered in Punjab from 2018 to 2024, while Sindh Police has so far registered four cases.

Azad Khan also informed the committee that cocaine was recovered from Pinky’s old residence. He said the suspect’s phone had also been sent for forensic examination, while letters had been written to NADRA and the FIA.

Anmol, also known as Pinky and widely referred to as the “Cocaine Queen,” was arrested on May 12 in a joint operation by police and a federal agency in Karachi’s Garden area.

Police later brought the suspect to court for a hearing, where a video showing her lavish appearance went viral on social media.

The Islamabad High Court did not grant immediate relief to 20 sub-lease holder apartment owners of One Constitution Avenue in their intra-court appeals.

A division bench comprising Justice Muhammad Azam Khan and Justice Inaam Ameen Minhas heard the appeals. The petitioners, including former air chief Mujahid Anwar Khan, former ICC president Ehsan Mani, former Senate chairman Wasim Sajjad and others, have challenged the court’s earlier decision.

The appellants challenged the judgment up to paragraph 30 for the protection of third-party rights. Advocates Taimur Aslam and Ali Raza appeared on behalf of the appellants, while Advocate Kashif Ali Malik represented the Capital Development Authority.

During the hearing, CDA counsel Kashif Ali Malik argued that there was a clear order of the high court regarding cancellation of the lease. He said the law provides that after cancellation of the lease, the building becomes the property of the CDA.

At this, Justice Inaam Ameen Minhas remarked that if that was the case, then was the committee formed by the prime minister illegal? The court asked why the CDA had not filed any petition against the committee constituted by the prime minister. The CDA counsel replied that he would not comment on the matter, adding that only the Attorney General’s Office could explain it.

Justice Muhammad Azam Khan observed that if the prime minister’s committee had not been challenged, it would become an issue. Justice Inaam Ameen Minhas also remarked that the rights of the owners had been defended before the Supreme Court as well.

The court asked whether any notice had been issued to the apartment owners to vacate the apartments. Justice Inaam Ameen Minhas observed that the owners were residing there when the lease legally existed, adding that if anyone moved in now, that would be a separate matter.

The court observed that there was no longer any issue regarding BNP, and that the matter under consideration related to the affected parties. During the hearing, the counsel argued that the CDA had no status for the apartment owners.

The court asked whether any committee comprising the apartment residents had been formed. The CDA counsel replied that no such committee had been constituted.

Appellants’ counsel Taimur Aslam argued that police were being sent and doors were being broken, therefore a stay order should be granted. He asked whether FIRs should now be registered against police officers.

Justice Muhammad Azam Khan remarked that the building was standing and was not going anywhere, adding that the court would ask the CDA what it intended to do. CDA counsel Kashif Ali Malik said the CDA Board would decide the matter in accordance with the law.

The CDA counsel further argued that if relief was granted to the third party, it would directly benefit BNP.

The court later directed the CDA to seek instructions and submit a written reply, and adjourned the hearing until May 25.

Islamabad: District and Sessions Court in Islamabad has sentenced Umar Hayat to death in the murder case of TikToker Sana Yousuf.

Additional Sessions Judge Afzal Majoka announced the verdict in the case. The court also sentenced the convict to a total of 20 years in prison and imposed a fine of Rs2.4 million under three provisions, including offences related to robbery and entering a house.

During the hearing, screenshots of Umar Hayat’s calls and chats were presented before the court. The complainant’s lawyer requested the court to award the accused two death sentences.

Umar Hayat’s lawyer argued before the court that the accused had expressed no confidence in the state counsel and the trial court. The defence lawyer said two applications were pending before the Islamabad High Court and argued that it would be unfair to proceed with a pre-decided position that the accused should be given the death penalty.

A day earlier, Umar Hayat had denied the charge in the Sana Yousuf murder case. During proceedings in the District and Sessions Court, he said he had made no confession or disclosure about killing Sana and claimed that he had no contact with her.

The judge then asked him about a number saved as “Kaka” that had appeared from Sana Yousuf’s phone during the investigation. After mobile forensics, the number was found to belong to Umar Hayat. In response, he said he could not answer without his lawyer.

According to the case background, TikToker Sana Yousuf was killed at her home in Islamabad on June 2, 2025. Umar Hayat was arrested from Jaranwala on June 3, 2025.

His identification parade was held on June 13, and his second mobile phone was recovered from Jaranwala. Umar Hayat was indicted on September 20, while the first testimony in the case was recorded on September 25.

A total of 31 witnesses were included in the case, out of whom statements of 27 witnesses were recorded.

The National Cyber Crime Investigation Agency (NCCIA) has arrested a 15-member gang in Lahore for allegedly being involved in WhatsApp fraud.

According to officials, the arrested suspects deceived citizens by posing as government officers and allegedly obtained millions of rupees from them. NCCIA officials said the operation was carried out on the basis of secret information, after which raids were conducted at different locations and key members of the gang were taken into custody.

Initial investigations revealed that the suspects were working through an organized network and were using modern technology to trap citizens. Officials said the suspects contacted people through fake WhatsApp accounts and different phone numbers, presented themselves as officers of government institutions, and obtained sensitive information from citizens through various excuses.

According to officials, the suspects sometimes lured people with claims of prizes, sometimes threatened them with legal action, and at other times asked for sensitive details under the pretext of bank account verification. After obtaining the information, money was withdrawn from citizens’ accounts or collected from them through different methods.

The NCCIA said 16 mobile phones, several fake WhatsApp accounts, SIMs, and other suspicious digital evidence were recovered from the arrested suspects. The seized digital devices have been shifted to a laboratory for forensic analysis to trace other members of the gang and identify possible victims.

Officials said cases have been registered against the suspects under the cybercrime law, and further investigation has been started. Raids are also being conducted to arrest other facilitators linked to the gang.

The NCCIA has warned citizens to remain careful about suspicious calls and messages received on social media and WhatsApp. The agency advised people not to share personal or banking information with any unverified person and to immediately report suspicious activity to the relevant authorities.