2017 Karachi stabbings
| 2017 Karachi stabbings | |
|---|---|
| Part of Domestic violence in Pakistan | |
  Karachi Karachi (Sindh)  Karachi Karachi (Pakistan) | |
| Location | Karachi, Pakistan |
| Coordinates | 24°51′41.26″N 67°0′35.78″E / 24.8614611°N 67.0099389°E |
| Date | 25 September 2017 – 16 October 2017 |
| Target | Female citizens |
Attack type | Stabbing |
| Weapons | Sharp object / knife |
| Deaths | 0 |
| Injured | 16 |
The 2017 Karachi stabbings were series of attacks carried out by an anonymous person against women in Karachi, Sindh, Pakistan. The spree started on 25 September 2017 and in result 16 women were injured; none of them was robbed or killed by him.
Attacks[edit]
The stabber first injured three female citizens on 25 September. He then injured two more on 26 September, and another on 28 September. The affected area was said to be from Johar Chowrangi to Pehlwan Goth between Habib University and Rado Bakery, and the victims were brought to nearby hospital; Darus Sehat, Gulistan-e-Johar.[1]
On 4 October, five women were wounded in the areas from Gulshan-e-Jamal to Gulshan Chowrangi, within three hours.[2][3] On 16 October, a girl was stabbed near Federal B. Area.[4][5]
Some women remained either untraceable, or were approached by the local police station, but they refused to file complaints.[6] According to the information, 16 female citizens had fallen victim until.[7]
Perpetrator[edit]
The attacks were done by the same person under same dressing. As reported by some victims and seen in CCTV footages, the suspect appears to be a thin man, with 5′ 7–9″ height and aged 20–29. He is clad, wearing black T-shirt and jeans with a bag. He rides a red motorcycle wearing a helmet, and attacks from behind a woman with his left hand using a sharp object and rides away. One of the victims saw him without wearing a helmet, who told he has curly hair and a light shave.[8] He was also said to be suffering from psychological disorder.[9]
The CCTV clips were of poor-quality that they didn't aid in the investigation. The attacker's face and bike's number plate were extremely hard to figure out.[10][11][12] All the survivors were "decently attired", so involvement of terrorists in the attacks is not suspected by the police.[13]
Aftermath[edit]
These attacks spread panic and fear, forcing many women to stay in home. Soon, high alert security was sent to patrol the areas and investigate throughout.[14][15]
Following this, the female students at University of Karachi demanded additional security and consequently their attendance was low. They were advised to use point busses instead of using public transport, and the use of helmet was banned while riding a bike within the university premises. A police team too visited the university to validate reports of attacks on women campus, however, Vice Chancellor Prof. Dr. Muhammad Ajmal Khan rejected the reports.[16][17][18][19][20]
Reactions[edit]
On 13 October, police produced Shahzad in the court, saying that he is close to the suspect.[21] On 15 October, Sahiwal police arrested suspect Waseem from Mandi Bahauddin with the help of a team of Karachi police,[22][23] who was said to be behind the similar knife attacks in Chichawatni area, where 50 women were injured within three years since 2013.[24] Though, after another attack on 16 October in Karachi, it resulted in stating that he might not be involved in Karachi attacks as he never visited.[11] So, Punjab police wanted to interrogate him for similar attacks in Sahiwal, Rawalpindi and Lahore.[25][26][27][28] However, on 14 November, all five cases against Shahzad were closed and he was set free due to lack of evidence.[29]
References[edit]
- ^ Zubair Ashraf (28 September 2017). "Three cases registered against 'psychopathic' attacker". The Express Tribune. Archived from the original on 28 January 2018. Retrieved 6 October 2017.
- ^ Sakina Haider (5 October 2017). "Karachi Knife Attacker Stabbed 5 Girls in 3 Hours!". Brandsynario. Archived from the original on 30 April 2018. Retrieved 6 October 2017.
- ^ "Locations where women targeted by 'knife attacker' in Karachi". The News. 6 October 2017. Archived from the original on 27 January 2018. Retrieved 6 October 2017.
- ^ "Knife attacker strikes again, injures girl in Karachi's Joharabad". Dunya News. 17 October 2017. Archived from the original on 30 April 2018. Retrieved 18 October 2017.
- ^ Ahmer Rehman; Omaima Malik (17 October 2017). "Suspect arrested in Punjab not involved in Karachi knife attacks: DIG EAST". Geo News. Archived from the original on 27 January 2018. Retrieved 18 October 2017.
- ^ "Attack on women noticed". The Nation. 29 September 2017. Archived from the original on 30 September 2017. Retrieved 6 October 2017.
- ^ Ghazala Sulaiman (5 October 2017). "Key Suspect in Karachi Knife Attacker Case Arrested: Claims Police". Brandsynario. Archived from the original on 8 October 2017. Retrieved 6 October 2017.
- ^ Zeeshan Shah (7 October 2017). "Hunt for Karachi knife attacker handed over to CTD". Geo News. Archived from the original on 27 January 2018. Retrieved 8 October 2017.
- ^ "Police offer Rs0.5 million reward for 'Karachi knife attacker'". Geo News. 1 October 2017. Archived from the original on 27 January 2018. Retrieved 14 November 2017.
- ^ "Is the media's portrayal of Karachi knife attacker justified?". Geo News. 10 October 2017. Archived from the original on 27 January 2018. Retrieved 12 October 2017.
- ^ a b "'Knifeman' in custody never came to Karachi, Senate body told". The News. 18 October 2017. Archived from the original on 27 January 2018. Retrieved 18 October 2017.
- ^ Imtiaz Ali (20 October 2017). "Police detain 50 in connection with Karachi knife attacks". DAWN. Archived from the original on 20 October 2017. Retrieved 21 October 2017.
- ^ "Five more female citizens fall victim to knife attacks". The News. 5 October 2017. Archived from the original on 27 January 2018. Retrieved 6 October 2017.
- ^ "Fear grips Karachi's Gulistan-e-Johar as four women get stabbed in two days". Samaa TV. 27 September 2017. Retrieved 6 October 2017.
- ^ Sheharyar Ali (6 October 2017). "Knife-wielding motorcyclist forces women to stay home in Karachi". The Express Tribune. Archived from the original on 27 January 2018. Retrieved 8 October 2017.
- ^ "Attendance at KU thins as knife attacker remains at large in Karachi". Samaa TV. 28 September 2017. Retrieved 6 October 2017.
- ^ "CCTV footage of Karachi knife attacker surfaces". Samaa TV. 30 September 2017. Retrieved 6 October 2017.
- ^ Abdul Majeed (3 October 2017). "'Ansarul Sharia may be responsible for Jauhar knife attacks'". The News. Archived from the original on 27 January 2018. Retrieved 6 October 2017.
- ^ "Karachi knife attacker fails as woman barely escapes in latest attempt". Samaa TV. 6 October 2017. Retrieved 8 October 2017.
- ^ "Karachi hospital treats 'first male victim' as knife attacker still at large". The News. 8 October 2017. Archived from the original on 27 January 2018. Retrieved 8 October 2017.
- ^ "'Knifeman aide' remanded in police custody for questioning". DAWN. 14 October 2017. Archived from the original on 17 October 2017. Retrieved 18 October 2017.
- ^ Imtiaz Ali (15 October 2017). "Prime suspect arrested in Karachi 'knife attacks': police". DAWN. Archived from the original on 17 October 2017. Retrieved 18 October 2017.
- ^ Faraz Khan; Mudaser Kazi (15 October 2017). "Karachi's serial 'knife attacker' arrested in Mandi Bahuddin: police". The Express Tribune. Archived from the original on 30 April 2018. Retrieved 18 October 2017.
- ^ Talha Hashmi (6 October 2017). "Karachi knife attacker suspected to be involved in similar Punjab attacks: CM Sindh". Geo News. Archived from the original on 27 January 2018. Retrieved 12 October 2017.
- ^ "Woman attacked by knife-wielding men in Gujranwala". Geo News. 7 October 2017. Archived from the original on 27 January 2018. Retrieved 12 October 2017.
- ^ "Woman attacked with knife in Lahore". Geo News. 12 October 2017. Archived from the original on 27 January 2018. Retrieved 12 October 2017.
- ^ "After Karachi, first knife-attack reported in Faisalabad". The Express Tribune. 22 October 2017. Archived from the original on 28 January 2018. Retrieved 23 October 2017.
- ^ "Faisalabad knife attack: Couple injured by unidentified assailants". Geo News. 22 October 2017. Archived from the original on 27 January 2018. Retrieved 23 October 2017.
- ^ "All five cases of Karachi knife attacks closed for lack of proof". DAWN. 15 November 2017. Archived from the original on 17 November 2017. Retrieved 18 November 2017.