Three Held in Dr Akash Murder Within 36 Hours

News Desk

Karachi: A swift police investigation involving technical surveillance and the review of more than 100 CCTV cameras led to the arrest of three suspects within 36 hours of the murder of Dr Akash during a robbery in Karachi’s Frere area, police said on Wednesday.

Speaking at a press conference, Deputy Inspector General (DIG) South Asad Raza said the arrests marked a significant breakthrough in the high-profile case, which was treated as a priority following directives from Inspector General of Police (IGP) Sindh.

According to investigators, four suspects on two motorcycles, supported by an accomplice in a car, carried out the robbery on July 13 after tracking Dr Akash from a bank where he had withdrawn cash. Police said a lookout inside the bank monitored the victim’s movements and alerted the armed suspects about 20 minutes later.

The robbers intercepted the victim’s vehicle in the Frere area and opened fire during the attempted robbery. Dr Akash sustained critical injuries and later died.

DIG Raza said investigators relied on technical evidence, digital surveillance and footage from the Safe City system, the Command and Control Centre and private CCTV cameras to reconstruct the suspects’ movements. The investigation first identified the alleged lookout, eventually leading police to the remaining suspects and the vehicle used in the crime.

Authorities recovered cash, mobile phones and the weapon believed to have been used in the killing from the arrested men. Police said the suspects had prior involvement in street crimes, while one of them had already been declared a proclaimed offender.

A case has been registered at Frere Police Station, and raids are continuing to arrest the remaining suspect. Police said they remained in contact with Dr Akash’s family and were committed to bringing every person involved in the crime to justice.