Karachi police bust gang of bike snatchers involving PAF, Navy employees

E-Paper | May 04, 2026

Karachi police’s Anti-Car Lifting Cell (ACLC) on Friday announced to have busted a gang of motorbike snatchers involving employees of Pakistan Air Force (PAF) and Pakistan Navy.

“The ACLC has busted a gang of criminals involved in motorcycle snatching and theft cases in various areas of Karachi, especially Defence, Tipu Sultan and Sharea Faisal,” said SSP ACLC Syed Asad Raza.

The official said 14 motorcycles were recovered from the possession of the arrested suspects — identified as Sohail Murtaza and Younas Jones. "Their accomplice Shahjehan, an official of Pakistan Navy, is still at large," the SSP said.

“Sohail Murtaza is a civilian employee of PAF while Shahjehan is part of the administrative staff at a Navy complex,” added the senior officer in a press statement.

The arrested suspects would evade security checks after committing crimes by showing their service cards to the police, SSP Raza maintained. “They took stolen motorcycles to chop shops for selling parts in other areas," he added.

ACLC police said that further investigation was underway, while a case has been registered against the suspects.

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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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What about me

Mar 30, 2018 07:43pm

Only petty thieves are caught, not those who have bankrupt the country for their gains.

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Aslam

Mar 30, 2018 07:44pm

Wow! Good job

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Exlim

Mar 30, 2018 08:04pm

Good job. Now let them rot in jail for very long time.

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Ultra Instinct

Mar 30, 2018 08:37pm

Why all the bikes are same?

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Mansur ul haque

Mar 30, 2018 08:40pm

Good job by police. Very difficult to arrest men in uniform.

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Kaka

Mar 30, 2018 08:45pm

@What about me - atleast Police finally did something good for a change!

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Mar 30, 2018 09:18pm

@Mansur ul haque please read article,they are not uniform personnel but unfortunately working in paf and Navy as civilian

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Sameer

Mar 30, 2018 09:43pm

I rarely get to say this but excellent job Karachi Police...AD Khawaja's men no doubt. Very dissappointing that PAF/Navy personal involved. Absolutely shameful. Maybe one day the big fish will also be behind bars.

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Sab se pehle pakistan

Mar 30, 2018 11:03pm

This is what happens when institutions starts to live in cities. Can you please check living and life styles and bank accounts of others who are currently doing or have done postings in Urban Sindh. You will be surprised. For the police weldone in this case but an internal audit of the police will show more then 80 percent of police is involved in such aactivities one way or the other.

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ABBA

Mar 30, 2018 11:14pm

Shameful act, police should be given authority to check all govt employees including army, pak, navy.

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Abbas

Mar 31, 2018 02:30am

Navy n PAF should terminate them and set examples. We need progressive Pakistan.

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Syed Shahid Raza

Mar 31, 2018 08:06am

@Sameer these navy PAF guys are administrative staff and are employed as unskilled casual labours on daily wages. they dont have access even to all other military establishments except where they work. unfortunately, they are not trained like other uniform personnel are being done... primarily its bcoz of their short contract, minimum access to core military affairs and off course being at low cadre... But plz be rest assure, not only they will be taken on severe note by both services in addn to civil court decision thus leaving a strict message to others as well.

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Stranger

Mar 31, 2018 08:13am

@ABBA honestly ur opinion isn’t absurd, many at times sensitive things are carried by these people , it would be a big mess if they get checked and the police leaks that info it would turn out to be a gigantic threat to national security, plus I recommend that u read the article again it says that they were civilian employees of navy and airforce not actual armed forces employees.

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NADIM KHAN

Mar 31, 2018 08:17am

They are civilian employees of Navy and PAF, bringing bad name to the their parent organization. They deserve maximum punishment.

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Red Onions

Mar 31, 2018 12:53pm

It's shocking! I am quite sure armed forces will take a serious notice of their personnel involved in such crimes.

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SHAHID SATTAR

Mar 31, 2018 06:58pm

Good work by the police. The perpetrators must be punished severely for bringing bad name to their organizations. A check must be kept on their friends and associates and family to ascertain if anyone else is also involved in similar activities.

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