E-Paper | October 11, 2026

Delivery man falls to death in elevator shaft in Karachi

Imtiaz Ali Published
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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.

Pakistan
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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.

Imtiaz Ali

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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.
Recommend 0
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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SR
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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AQ
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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Jk
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 ?
Recommend 0
Mehrunisa
Aug 20, 2016 11:12am
@Ahmed Hasan thats exactly I say
Recommend 0

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