Karachi mobile trader robbed of cash, iPhones at gunpoint

A mobile phone trader was robbed at gunpoint by unidentified armed suspects in Karachi's Azizabad area, who escaped

A mobile phone trader was robbed at gunpoint by unidentified armed suspects in Karachi’s Azizabad area, who escaped with Rs500,000 in cash and three iPhones.

According to the Karachi Mobile and Electronics Dealers Association (KMEDA), the victim, Hamza Nadir, is a resident of Azizabad and a trader at Fariya Mobile Market. The robbery took place within the limits of the Azizabad police station, where the suspects intercepted him, held him at gunpoint, and stole Rs500,000 along with three iPhones before fleeing the scene.

The association said that despite the incident, police have so far failed to arrest the suspects or recover the stolen cash and mobile phones.

The trader said the robbers forced him to unlock his mobile phone at gunpoint before questioning him about the passwords to all the online banking applications installed on the device. The ordeal raised concerns about the growing use of digital theft methods during street robberies, where criminals attempt to gain access to victims’ financial accounts in addition to stealing valuables.

KMEDA stated that incidents targeting traders in Karachi have increased significantly in recent weeks, creating widespread fear and insecurity within the business community. The association warned that the rising number of robberies has become a serious concern for shopkeepers and mobile phone dealers across the city.

KMEDA President Muhammad Minhaj Gulfam expressed deep concern over the worsening law and order situation and urged law enforcement authorities to take immediate action. He called on police to identify and arrest those responsible for the robbery and recover the stolen cash and mobile phones as soon as possible.

He added that swift action by the authorities is essential to restore traders’ confidence and improve security, as continued incidents of armed robberies are leaving business owners increasingly worried about their safety while carrying cash, expensive mobile devices, and other valuable goods.