KARACHI: Over 40 lockers of a private bank were looted by the guard of a private security firm and his accomplices in Gulshan-i-Iqbal, officials said on Monday.

They said that there were “serious lapses” on part of the bank management and the security company as they hired the suspect guard despite the fact that he had been previously arrested on charges of looting another bank in Central district and handed down four years in prison.

They added that the guard, identified as Kashif Raza, along with his three accomplices broke open over 40 lockers, out of total 80, with the help of cutters and took away cash, gold and other valuables.

The suspects could not enter the bank’s strongroom, where cash was kept. They also took away the recording of CCTV cameras.

Security company hired suspect despite his criminal record

The bank management told the police that they were assessing the exact value of looted cash and valuables.

SSP East Azfar Mahesar told Dawn that security guard Raza was arrested for looting a private bank in North Nazimabad in the past and was sentenced to four-year imprisonment.

He was rehired by the private firm, Askari Guards, and was posted at Askari Bank Limited near Disco Bakery in Gulshan-i-Iqbal.

Despite having a criminal record, the security company hired the guard and the bank management also posted him inside the bank without verifying his credentials, he added.

“There were serious lapses on part of both security company and the bank management and the police authorities have decided to write a letter to them drawing their attention towards negligence,” the SSP said.

The officer added that the police would also probe as to how the guard got a job in the firm and was posted at the bank.

The police detained three other guards of the same bank for questioning.

They also conducted raids on the house of the suspect in Gulshan-i-Iqbal and detained his relatives for questioning.

The SSP said that the suspect was a “drug addict” who used heroin and his family members told investigators that they had no connection with him since they abandoned him for being an addict.

Published in Dawn, March 5th, 2019