17-year-old girl raped, murdered in Karachi's Surjani Town

E-Paper | July 17, 2026

A 17-year-old girl was raped and strangulated to death in Surjani Town, an area in the suburbs of Karachi, police and hospital officials told Dawn.

The body was recovered from an under-construction house in Sector 4D of the area.

The corpse was shifted to Abbasi Shaheed Hospital for a post-mortem examination. The police surgeon, Dr Aijaz Khokar, confirmed the 17-year-old was raped and strangulated.

Deputy Superintendent of Police (DSP) Surjani Town Sohrab Meo told Dawn that the girl had been identified via a mobile phone found with her at the crime scene. She was a resident of the North Karachi area of the metropolis.

Meo said that it appeared the girl was choked to death with her dupatta, which was also found from the crime scene.

The victim's family members told police that she had left home on Tuesday to attend a beautician's course but never returned.

Karachi-West SSP Investigation, Akhtar Farooq told Dawn that an investigation is underway. He added that they have got some clues and were working on them to unearth the identity of the culprit(s) involved in the rape-cum-murder of the teenager girl.

Pakistan

Imtiaz Ali is a Karachi-based reporter for Dawn with over 25 years of experience in the field. His reporting portfolio encompasses crime, politics, and the provincial legislature, alongside coverage of the courts, government affairs, and the health sector.

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AKBAR

Feb 01, 2017 06:16pm

I pray the culprits get caught and get harsh punishment.

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Adil Jadoon

Feb 01, 2017 06:28pm

The police need to do their job and the perpetrator should be given the harshest punishment!

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Khan

Feb 01, 2017 06:23pm

No arrest has been made so far? poor law & orders situation causing these crimes. Fed.& Provincial govt. should set an example to punish the culprits.... My apologies for the hard words...

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Khan

Feb 01, 2017 06:39pm

@Adil Jadoon 40% of our police performing the VIP & VVIP duties without proper rest food and accommodation. I have been through this ! The rest of 60% police is not enough to regulate law & order in Karachi.

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Jawad Khan

Feb 01, 2017 06:40pm

If a law is introduced to punish such perpetrators , then no one will ever dare to commit such crime, not even think about it.

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my Comments

Feb 01, 2017 06:44pm

Find those who committed the crime and punish them in public place so it would be a big news and others will know what happens to those who rape and kill children in the society.

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Feb 01, 2017 06:46pm

With this police and law they will be out soon even if caught. Police is the root of corruption.

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ABE

Feb 01, 2017 06:48pm

Oh lord! Here we go again. This is what we can expect from lack of effective government, police, courts and the public who have become so numb to the daily dose of criminality and horrors!

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The end is near

Feb 01, 2017 06:54pm

This is the so called "Progress" the PM always talks about.

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Jawad Khan

Feb 01, 2017 06:58pm

I request Federal and Provincial Government of Pakistan to 'IMMEDIATELY' introduce and implement a Law that makes 'PUNISHMENT FOR RAPE' in Pakistan 'SO BRUTAL' that those who intend or even think about committing such crime, would get an unforgettable lesson in their lives!

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The end is near

Feb 01, 2017 07:02pm

The strange thing I always notice is that our Mullahs never condemn such barbaric sexual violence against innocent Pakistani women and girls.

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Wasim

Feb 01, 2017 07:09pm

I can't find words to express my feelings because lately there have been a lot of articles on such heinous crimes.

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Syed Zafat Kazmi U.S.A

Feb 01, 2017 07:20pm

@my Comments 100% agree.

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Baneenbatool

Feb 01, 2017 07:27pm

moral corruption .

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Shahbaz ali

Feb 01, 2017 07:45pm

tauba tauba :/ the police should catch the barbarians and give the vigorous punishment.

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Mana

Feb 01, 2017 07:40pm

May she rest in peace. Sad how people and specially females are targeted when they go out of homes trying help their families. I pray for her. Culprit/s should get the punishment they deserve for this

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Blue Knight

Feb 01, 2017 07:46pm

Poor Soul.. RIP.. catch the culprit/s..

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Sab Se Pehle Pakistan

Feb 01, 2017 07:56pm

Where are the LEAs? Law and order is becoming worst in Urban Sindh. Street crimes are getting out of hands. Maximum punishment should be given to the culprits.

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N_Saq

Feb 01, 2017 07:58pm

As I said before, we have been on this track before (1970s) and we all know the end result. Having said that I would like to add Pak is on the right track and the need of the hour is to strengthened laws and their implementation/enforcement, the police needs to be depoliticized so it protects law and order instead of rich, powerful, feudals etc and punishments must be carried out in order to deter the criminal/corrupt mind otherwise we will see that history will repeat again. Pak needs to elect individuals that do not have any baggage because a corrupt or criminal person will never implement and enforce laws that will tomorrow come to haunt him/her or will put him/her in jail.

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Sarkar

Feb 01, 2017 08:05pm

For how long this will continue? We get notified only when something get to the press what about the thousand other? Rape has it's own definition not many people are aware of that.

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nasir khan

Feb 01, 2017 08:30pm

Unfortunately, this is Islamic Republic of Pakistan? Is there any one among the Ulema to raise voice on this brutality?

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ali

Feb 01, 2017 09:27pm

@The end is near The mullahs call for Shariah implementation that will include a befitting punishment for such crimes, but you lot don't accept that.

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hassan Parvez

Feb 01, 2017 10:15pm

This is only today's news. Tomorrow it will vanish from news papers and within next few days there will be another story like this with similar fate. Pakistanis as a nation have lost all its senses towards such crimes.

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SMI

Feb 01, 2017 10:19pm

NEED JUSTICE !!!!!

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Optimistic Pakistani

Feb 01, 2017 10:42pm

How many??????????is there any one to check

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Houlbelat

Feb 01, 2017 10:40pm

Karachi is fast going Delhi's way! Need to arrest the trend urgently.

Recommend 0

Feb 01, 2017 10:58pm

She was someone's daughter...someone's sister...can't imagine the pain these people would be going through

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Reader

Feb 01, 2017 11:05pm

Parents are at fault.

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Worthless Wealth.

Feb 01, 2017 11:11pm

The Area Police be held responsible until l the real culprit/s is brought to justice! Yes, I mean real culprit/s, and not an innocent victim of police brutality! This case of Rape & Murder be taken up as "SUO MOTTO" by the competent court of Law and hold the Law Enforcement Agency (Police) squarely responsible for the heinous crime so committed by the brutes and beast. The innocent girl, as it seems, had taken up beautician's course must be to it make a career and support the family; especially the aged old parents and younger siblings! Let men and women live freely to perform their Moral, Legal and Social obligation! To achieve such an objective, the administration and judiciary must play its assigned part to lend full legal support to all law abiding citizens to progress and prosper! Let me once again emphasize that, no one can dare to commit such crime without backing of people in power and or position!

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rao abid

Feb 01, 2017 11:20pm

really sad to hear that news!!!!!!!

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Dr. Salaria, aamir Ahmad

Feb 01, 2017 11:49pm

What a great tragedy? Where are the "movers and shakers" of Karachi?

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Ali

Feb 01, 2017 11:57pm

Shameful and painful

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IMTIAZ ALI KHAN

Feb 02, 2017 12:48am

Heart breaking, a blossoming flower life shortened. R.I.P dear departed soul. Justice needs to be served!

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Tanvir

Feb 02, 2017 12:47am

This will be treated by the authorities as another casual murder in the city. The victim is not connected to any VIP, so let's all go home.

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Gohar

Feb 02, 2017 01:43am

Hope they catch the culprits and show the face of these criminals so that the whole world can know who they are and where they come from. They along with their family should be shamed. My condolence to the girls family.

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jA-Australia

Feb 02, 2017 02:27am

Unfortunately, rape and murder happen even in the richest countries. What we can hope, at least, is that the culprits should be punished and not escape due to "connections".

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Alba

Feb 02, 2017 02:33am

The police need to question men standing on the street near the beauty school everyday watching the women.

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SaeEds

Feb 02, 2017 03:24am

@Khan Blaming VIP again how about the culprit family friend come forward and hand over there love one to law. These type of cases only solved by inside information. And we people always cover our crimes and blame other. Rest In Peace little girl

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Kalim Mirzas Saira

Feb 02, 2017 04:20am

And we were laughing at indias rapes! Rape is rape... heart goes to the little girl

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S. A. M.

Feb 02, 2017 04:23am

so very sad. i'm sure police will be mindful that's it's a case of a teenager's brutal murder. i hope the culprits get caught and receive punishment for their heinous crime against an innocent young girl.

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Rajput

Feb 02, 2017 04:35am

Utterly Shameful

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illawarrior

Feb 02, 2017 05:20am

@Jawad Khan Laws already exist!

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zaidi, Iqbal hadi

Feb 02, 2017 06:00am

Simple arithmetical question need simple numerical answer to know if we succeeded in controlling it or helped it to grow. How many cases of rape and murder have been registered during (a) PM Nawaz present tenure (b) during Zardari rule and during my bhaijan Musharraf rule? Who answers me? Iqbal Hadi Zaidi

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Pakistani

Feb 02, 2017 06:30am

Karachi is more becoming like india. Corrupted PPP and MQM have ruled Karachi.

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Jon malik

Feb 02, 2017 06:38am

They should have a databAse of all the fingerprints and even DNA for the residents of that area.

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Sameer

Feb 02, 2017 06:44am

When you cant keep the public safe...it is only a matter of time the elite can no longer keep their children safe too.

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Akil Akhtar

Feb 02, 2017 07:17am

@Jawad Khan What do you mean...? there is law against rape and murder.....nothing stops criminals except punishment.

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Ahsan Gul

Feb 02, 2017 08:17am

This is the time for all those who consider themselves as Islamic law abiding Muslims to stand up and find the criminals who committed this heinous crime. A young gir has lost her life and we all are waiting for local authorities to do something?

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Ali

Feb 02, 2017 08:48am

I have seen Surjani's police station and their staff. They will do nothing but will demand money from the family of victim to lodge an FIR and further proceedings. This is how efficiently they will work.

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Imtiaz

Feb 02, 2017 09:37am

We mourn for the innocent girl and the mindset of our men.

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Concerned Pakistani

Feb 02, 2017 11:31am

@The end is near What is the role of PM in this crime. This is the crime of an individual and such crimes happen in every country. Main thing is to catch the culprits and do speedy justice. If justice is done after years of the crime then its not effective to act as restrain for others.

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