Delivery man falls to death in elevator shaft in Karachi

E-Paper | May 03, 2026

KARACHI: A 26-year-old man fell three storeys to his death in a elevator shaft in the Clifton area on Wednesday, police said.

Sajjad Raza, a resident of Malir and a delivery man for local cafe chain Espresso, arrived at the Columbus Tower at 8:30pm. When he failed to return to the cafe by 10:30pm and calls to his mobile phone went unanswered, staff went to investigate the building and found his motorbike parked outside, police said. The customer also confirmed he had made a delivery on the third floor of the building at 8:30pm.

Raza's body was found in the elevator shaft around 12pm on Thursday.

According to police, Raza walked in when the elevator doors opened and fell to his death as there was no lift in place.

"The police will proceed as per law if the employer or relatives file a complaint of negligence," said Senior Superintendent Police (SSP) South Saqib Ismail Memon.

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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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Sid

Aug 18, 2016 04:52pm

Ghareeb ghar ke Larke trying to make their ends meet. A lost life, a source of income for a poor family lost. So many gutter holes with no covers in Pakistan, where kids falls and get trapped. Any accountability in Pakistan? Probably not. Another mother and family left to cry, but most likely no one will be held accountable. Rest in peace, bro.

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Khawaja Noor Uddin

Aug 18, 2016 05:01pm

I think police has to registered a case by itself, against the management of the building and compel them to pay amount to the deceased family. It would be helpful to avoid negligence in future and also for the family of the deceased person.

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Aug 18, 2016 05:02pm

Very sad, he must be a hard working boy who was on his job at this early hour. Now who has to compensate for his worthy life.

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Khadim

Aug 18, 2016 05:03pm

Oh my God! very sad incident , those who are responsible must brought to justice and compensate his family.

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Amir

Aug 18, 2016 05:04pm

Such a tragedy where low maintenance in high rises which are considered prime locations, results in such incidence. Unfortunately the consumers in Pakistan have no rights to take such organizations to court. If this happens, watch how fast our services will get better and better.

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Baba Chisty

Aug 18, 2016 05:05pm

Very very sad. how the lift door open with no lift?, No safety mechanism. ?

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Bol

Aug 18, 2016 05:07pm

Oh my God! What a tragedy.

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Some guy

Aug 18, 2016 05:10pm

Rest in peace !

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Vague Buster

Aug 18, 2016 05:10pm

There should be no such job like delivery boy, I live in a foreign country and here I see how these poor delivery guys rush on their bikes on highways risking their lives to deliver food in time to some lazy man who cannot walk to a restaurant.

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Zafar Ahmed

Aug 18, 2016 05:11pm

Case must be registered with the building owner & their union for this unfortunate accident due to negligence,

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M.Saeed

Aug 18, 2016 05:17pm

Very unfortunate happening! The management must be made to pay the compensation to the family.

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Siddiqui

Aug 18, 2016 05:19pm

Really very very sad. Building management is accountable for that.

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pink noise

Aug 18, 2016 05:22pm

very sad indeed. I think a complaint should be files by police or state deptts instead of asking familiy.

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Aug 18, 2016 05:22pm

"The police will proceed as per law if the employer or relatives file a complaint of negligence," said Senior Superintendent Police (SSP) South Saqib Ismail Memon. What the hell does that suppose to mean? You know there is negligence you should bring down the authorities who are responsible for this lapse. What a shameful behavior of police officer.

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Aug 18, 2016 05:28pm

What kind of a stupid law is that some one has to file complain before anything happens? Shouldn't it be a life is lost because of negligence and carelessness of people who left door open for people to fall in.

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Nafees

Aug 18, 2016 05:30pm

Very sad to read this news i am shocked finally a poor fell victim

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Zamir Kiani USA

Aug 18, 2016 05:37pm

Who is responsible for this Murder? city and state. Why only the Untouchable became victims Brahmans never see that loss!

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kaj

Aug 18, 2016 05:50pm

The lift should be sealed immediately and a case be registered against the management of the building . Adequate compensation to be obtained from the management of the building.

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ishrat salim

Aug 18, 2016 05:51pm

This is a stupid statement by the police that they will file FIR against the building owner after the relative of the victim file complaint of negligence. The police can do so on behalf of the State as safety of citizen lives as per constitution is the responsibility of the State. Beside, this shows there is no official govt safety certification with regard to maintenance of lifts / escalators etc; in high rise buildings or shopping centers in Karachi or Pakistan. This is because, we as a concerned citizen do not bother to demand such laws. When any one from living family in those high rise buildings faces such an incident, only then the whole members or tenants / owners of the building will wake up.

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Ayub

Aug 18, 2016 05:59pm

A couple of weeks ago a similar incident happened in Lahore where a retired federal secretary fell from 8th floor of a building in a similar situation.

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Gustaakh

Aug 18, 2016 06:28pm

We have more laws in the books than most other countries in the world. Surely there's a health and safety law somewhere which the Police can use to prosecute the people responsible for maintaining the lift. Why does someone have to make a complaint first when there's a dead body due to negligence ?

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Shehz

Aug 18, 2016 06:29pm

Negligent homicide it is.

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Belligerent Pacifist

Aug 18, 2016 06:40pm

Who will take care of the family of this unfortunate poor young fellow? Alas, what a heart wrenching and tragic death!

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Javed

Aug 18, 2016 06:40pm

On rare occasion, this has happened in the West, but the difference is the building owner is sued into bankruptcy by the relatives of the victim. Will that happen in this case? Your guess is as good as mine.

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Sami

Aug 18, 2016 06:42pm

Heartbreaking !!! Is there not a requirement, in Pakistsn, for elevators to be inspected regularly? Make the inspections a part of the manufacturer or distrubutor's yearly requirement. Government inspection would only make for opportunities for corruption.

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Azhar Jamil

Aug 18, 2016 06:43pm

It's human error and can be occur anywhere even in a modern country. Loss of a young man's life is very sad and his family should be properly compensated by the responsible authorities.

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Hamaad

Aug 18, 2016 06:44pm

The building residents should pressure the housing coop maintenance companies in charge, to keep their buildings safe and sound. It could have been one of them falling to their death.

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Sayyid

Aug 18, 2016 06:55pm

200% Building management & owners are responsible of this huge negligence... Case must be registered against them & compensat to his family by the building management ...

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Abuzar

Aug 18, 2016 07:01pm

@Azhar Jamil A person lost his life, one cannot justify negligence by saying we all makes mistakes.

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The End is Near

Aug 18, 2016 07:06pm

No value of a poor life. The gutters, mainholes are open. Many Kids have already died because of open gutters. Lifts are Not checked and their Service is Not maintained regulary once or twice a year. No rules and regulations. No Check and balance.This is an Islamic republic. Shame shame

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saeeds

Aug 18, 2016 07:15pm

@Vague Buster Delivery person make money because of the lazy person people also busy sometime. What can you do money is more important than most of life.

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Saad Razzaq

Aug 18, 2016 07:16pm

Any of building resident faced with the similar incident the story would have been different. Since it's about a poor man's life no issues at all

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JAMIL

Aug 18, 2016 07:24pm

is someone book for this negligence.

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Sympathiser

Aug 18, 2016 07:25pm

Very very unfortunate... There are lots of such mishaps we have come across.. A poor man lost his precious life.. Severe action must be taken against the people who have not provided simple safety precautions near the lift entrance... I pity his family

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Agha Ata

Aug 18, 2016 07:31pm

This is the second time I heard of such a case in Karachi. The last time I heard was probably in 1980's. Since then, until now (even in the USA) I never step into an elevator without first checking if it had a floor for me, to step on.

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Kamran

Aug 18, 2016 07:44pm

The restaurant should make sure that they fight for the poor family and make the building management compensate his family. Poor hardworking guy. :(

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Zara

Aug 18, 2016 08:15pm

R.I.P. What a tragic story. It could have been anyone who could have died from this. Who is responsible for this negligence? They should be help responsible and I hope the poor man's family gets justice as well as hefty compensation.

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Naxalite

Aug 18, 2016 08:19pm

Poor Man. RIP

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UniqueComment

Aug 18, 2016 08:32pm

Negligence and poor maintenance by the owners or management,resulted in such accidents. Poor guy family must be compensated appropriately.

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Salazar

Aug 18, 2016 09:00pm

@Vague Buster I have had been a delivery boy for a long period. We rush not only because of getting the food faster to the customer but also to get more deliveries in less time. More deliveries mean more money. And when you are poor and barely surviving the month, every penny is important. Not everyone can have a cushy job sire.

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divergence

Aug 18, 2016 09:55pm

Very sad incident, incidents like such happen worldwide which relate to usage of escalators and elevators. However, taking safety measures is the responsibility of governments. With the provision of ease in climbing heights, elevators and escalators etc. are very treacherous too.

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SAEED MASOOD

Aug 18, 2016 11:17pm

Sad Very Sad..a tragedy...if he had fallen in America the victim's family would have been paid in millions...

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Farrukh Safdar

Aug 19, 2016 12:03am

Justice must be done. This is sheer negligence of Building maintainance. A poor man lost his life due yo someone being negligent.

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Sab Se Pehle Pakistan

Aug 19, 2016 12:27am

Government and employer should support his family. Money cannot bring him back but can help the family in these tough times.

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Khalid Mahmood

Aug 19, 2016 01:17am

RIP, so sad, so tragic.

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Something Fishy

Aug 19, 2016 01:32am

While there are appropriately enough comments blaming the building management/owners no body is talking about the inspection authorizes. KMC/KDA must also be condemned and sued for a big sum.

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Ahmed Hasan

Aug 19, 2016 01:37am

Nothing will happen. Welcome to Pakistan!

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Fazeel Mehboob

Aug 19, 2016 01:38am

Sad to know about this accident. Its the high level of negligence by the building's management and also by the maintenance team of elevator. These accountable persons must pay a good compensation to deceased family. At the end, I will recommend all people to make sure that the lift is in place, while stepping in the elevator onward.

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justice

Aug 19, 2016 01:48am

Very strange. The company, who is taking care of elevator should be responsible for the tragic death. I hope, they understand the consequences. They should have put a sign or tape around elevator. This is a loss of life, not anything.

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Punch

Aug 19, 2016 03:00am

A death has taken place. Nobody needs to file a complaint of negligence for the police to act.

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Khan USA

Aug 19, 2016 05:56am

There is no agency to give fitness certificate or operation certificate to these elevators and thats why its happening . The poor dead guy family should be compensated and owner of the building should be punished and heavily fined !

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Syed Ahmed

Aug 19, 2016 05:59am

R I P my heart fell condule to raza family

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Sami Khan

Aug 19, 2016 06:26am

The government inspectors also supposedly check the condition of buildings including elevators. Any government officials that have approved the functioning of the elevator must also the booked for criminal negligence

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Daanish

Aug 19, 2016 07:47am

Suethe manegement building, any lawyer rreading this sad news. it will be good deed.

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saeed

Aug 19, 2016 07:49am

Strict punishment for building maintainers for this neglect causing the death

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Zafar

Aug 19, 2016 09:15am

God bless his soul and give courage to his loved ones. He might have been the only bread winner trying to make it through the day.

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Kamran

Aug 19, 2016 09:15am

Nobody is thinking of foul play. Whenever lift stops at a floor anyone can see the lights or inside of the carriage before stepping in no matter how much anyone is in hurry. Isn't it possible someone murder the poor guy and then dump the body there.

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Haris

Aug 19, 2016 02:43pm

The management of the building should had put a sign of some sort on the door of the lift.

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khurram khan

Aug 19, 2016 06:34pm

A door of an elevator cannot be opened without elevator. Myst be a substandard or old ekevator or maybe technical faulty.Building Admin is sole responsible.

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Mehrunisa

Aug 20, 2016 11:05am

@Amir People residing there are also ill mannered..thats why they overlook.

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Mehrunisa

Aug 20, 2016 11:06am

@M.Saeed One female foreign citizen was killed in this same building.. to this date she didnot get justice..and u think this poor man will get any justice ?

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Mehrunisa

Aug 20, 2016 11:12am

@Ahmed Hasan thats exactly I say

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