KARACHI, Oct 9: Veteran politician Mairaj Muhammad Khan and his friends were robbed of cash and cellphones by armed men in the Korangi Industrial Area on Monday.

Narrating the incident, Azhar Jameel who was accompanying Mairaj Muhammad Khan told Dawn that they were going to Korangi K Area to attend the soyam of Sardar Nabi, a veteran political activist who died on Saturday.

When their car stopped at a traffic signal in the KIA, two armed men on a motorcycle held Mairaj Muhammad Khan at gunpoint demanding cash and cellphones. Subsequently, Mr Khan surrendered Rs4,000. “I had around Rs9,000. They did not spare even our driver and took away Rs100 from him,” Mr Jameel said.

The bandits fled with the cellphones and cash. “Khan sahib did not go to the police station for an FIR saying that without the blessings of police such lawlessness could not prevail,” Mr Jameel said.