2017 Karachi stabbings
| 2017 Karachi stabbings | |
|---|---|
  Karachi Karachi (Sindh)  Karachi Karachi (Pakistan) | |
| Location | 24°51′41.26″N 67°0′35.78″E / 24.8614611°N 67.0099389°E Karachi, Pakistan |
| 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 a series of attacks carried out by an unknown person against women in Karachi, Sindh, Pakistan. The spree began on 25 September 2017 and injured 16 women in total, none of whom were robbed or killed.
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 in Gulistan-e-Johar.[1]
On 4 October, five women were wounded in an area between 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 information released by the police, 16 female citizens had fallen victim.[7]
Perpetrator
[edit]The attacks were done by the same person in the same clothing. As reported by some victims and seen in CCTV footage, the suspect appeared to be a thin man, standing between 5'7" and 5'9" and aged 20–29, clad in a black T-shirt and jeans with a bag. He rode a red motorcycle wearing a helmet, and attacked from behind a woman with his left hand using a sharp object. One of the victims saw him without a helmet, and would later state to authorities that the man had curly hair and a light shave.[8] He was also said to be suffering from a psychological disorder.[9]
Captured CCTV footage was of insufficient quality to aid in the investigation, as the attacker's face and bike's number plate were extremely difficult to make out.[10][11][12] Police ruled out terrorist involvement as all the survivors were "decently attired".[13]
Reactions
[edit]These attacks spread panic and fear, forcing many women to stay home. Soon, high alert security was sent to patrol the areas and investigate throughout.[14][15]
Following this, attendance at the University of Karachi declined substantially, with female students demanding additional security. They were advised to use point busses instead of using public transport, and the use of helmets while riding a bike within the university premises was banned. A police team also visited the university to validate reports of attacks on women on campus; however, Vice Chancellor Prof. Dr. Muhammad Ajmal Khan rejected the reports.[16][17][18][19][20]
Aftermath
[edit]On 12 October, Sahiwal police arrested M. Shahzad under suspicion of aiding the culprit.[21] On 15 October with the help of a team of Karachi police, Sahiwal police arrested their prime suspect, Muhammad Waseem, in Mandi Bahauddin.[22][23] Police also linked Waseem to similar knife attacks in Chichawatni, Sahiwal, Rawalpindi and Lahore.[24] The subsequent attack in Federal B. Area sowed doubt of Waseem's involvement in the Karachi attacks, however, and at a later meeting of the Senate Functional Committee on Human Rights to discuss the process of the case Sindh police would claim that there was no evidence Waseem had ever visited Karachi.[11] Waseem was later interrogated by Punjab police for potential involvement in the attacks in Lahore, Rawalpindi, and Sahiwal,[25][26][27][28] but on 14 November all five cases against Waseem were dismissed due to a 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.
- 1 2 "'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.