Honorary consulate of Somalia ransacked in Karachi

E-Paper | March 04, 2026

The Honorary Consulate of Somalia, which is situated in the offices of a private pharmaceutical firm in Karachi's Clifton area, was robbed late Friday night, police said.

Senior Superintendent of Police (District South) Saqib Ismail Memon told Dawn that six or seven armed men entered the premises of the consulate late night.

The men took away four laptops, six mobile phones, four LCD screens and at least Rs15,000 in cash, according to a police report.

The police are investigating the matter.

The African nation's honorary consulate was inaugurated last month on March 16, to celebrate 57 years of diplomatic relations between Pakistan and Somalia.

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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waleed fakhar

Apr 08, 2017 11:50am

Rangers operation has been proven as a failure.

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pakistan zindabad

Apr 08, 2017 11:51am

Is this the peace and law and order what they claimed to improve??

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zaryab chandio

Apr 08, 2017 11:52am

Where were the Rangers???as thier head quarter is located in the 2 kilometers diameter of every area.

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anil danane

Apr 08, 2017 12:05pm

Country like somalia is all time friend of Pakistan take care of somalian peoples

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HARD FACT

Apr 08, 2017 12:18pm

An isolated incident. Those blaming the Rangers have no idea what it was like to live in Karachi 5 years back!

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super good

Apr 08, 2017 12:41pm

Somalia is a friendly Muslim country.

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Farhan

Apr 08, 2017 01:09pm

Government should immediate action before the African nation term it as racist attack specially after this incident and Imran Khan unforunate comments.

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weq

Apr 08, 2017 01:10pm

7000 Rs wow, pity on robbers, they should have known it was the consulate of Somalia

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Sohail Khan Wazir

Apr 08, 2017 01:13pm

Door to door search operation to de-weaponized the whole Karachi is necessary to stop this kind of incidents.

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S.A.D. Story

Apr 08, 2017 01:14pm

@HARD FACT Don't defend..... It is a shame on Pakistan !

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Ahsan

Apr 08, 2017 01:18pm

I condemn this Racist attack.

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Skeptic

Apr 08, 2017 01:23pm

What a disgrace that even foreign consulates are not safe from such incidents in the country.

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Saba

Apr 08, 2017 01:30pm

We should stop calling and mocking them as kala with painted faces in our tv show skits. Stop celebs when they say "kale phatechure" from Africa. All such things mock thier existence and make them vulnerable to attacks in our society. Governemnt should provide them full security and outrightly condem this racist attack, to assure Somalian africans.

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saudagar

Apr 08, 2017 01:35pm

such incidence happen in india as well today a german was attacked in delhi ,lets not jump to any conclusions and target a country ! meanwhile india has given 5 billion line of credit to bangladesh ! this great news should make us feel happy !

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JUnaid

Apr 08, 2017 01:51pm

Consulate are supposed to be most safe place with highest level of security provided. This wudnt have happened to full proof security recieving UK or american consulate here. Somalian nations' consulate should be given same treatment on par with other nations. They shouldn't be left out of security just because they are Africans. Selective security to some and lack of to others by security providers , Racial target robbery led to this attack. I condemn this racist incident.

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Ayesha

Apr 08, 2017 01:58pm

Out of all embassy they chose to attack and rob embassy of an African nation. Government should probe this racist attack and condemn it. No more adjectives of international community of do more will be tolerated by Pakistanis.

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MOHAMMAD IQBAL

Apr 08, 2017 02:20pm

I lived in Somalia but never witnessed such incidence within city premises. We are worse than any African nation as far as security is concerned. Sindh Governor requested to call PM (not RS) and congratulate for the peace he brought in karachi(Governor's own trumpet repeated)

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Shahid

Apr 08, 2017 02:25pm

Government needs to take action against this racist attack.

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M.Saeed

Apr 08, 2017 02:33pm

@Farhan: An Honorary Consulate of a country is always a local person having sufficient experience about that country. This cannot be racist attack in any way.

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Fawad

Apr 08, 2017 03:39pm

@M.Saeed That's brushing things under carpet with lies. Ambassadors and consular officials are citizens of their own respective countries, following their nation rules that are given diplomatic immunity as per Vienna convention. Eg. Consular official Ramond davis. They are not Pakistanis.

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Somaliman

Apr 08, 2017 05:24pm

@M.Saeed Somalia has rather a consulate in Karachi and not a honorary consulate . It has even an ambassador in Pakistan as you can see in the video in the link below during her official welcome ceremony in Karachi in 2016. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=fX4Eq-ZKTS0

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Somaliman

Apr 08, 2017 05:39pm

@Fawad There are honorary consuls (who also can be foreigners delegated by the country they're representing) and consuls who are purely citizens of respective countries. However, Somalia has a consulate and not a honorary consul (or consulate) in Karachi. It has even an official ambasador in Karachi as proves the video in the link below, which was about her official welcome ceremony in Karachi. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=fX4Eq-ZKTS0

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Somaliman

Apr 08, 2017 07:29pm

Thanks guys for your support; we really do appreciate it! On behalf of Somalis.

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PragmatIC Approach

Apr 08, 2017 08:31pm

Such dacoities are common in Karachi, it got lead news as premises used by Hon Consul of Somalia. Responsibility lies on Karachi Police.

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Not your supporter

Apr 09, 2017 12:42am

How poor will be the people who robbed Somalian consulate