Street crime surges in Karachi: APP journalist mugged in broad daylight

KARACHI, (APP - UrduPoint / Pakistan Point News - 25th Apr, 2026) The worsening law and order situation in Karachi once again came under sharp focus after a reporter of the state-run Associated Press of Pakistan was deprived of his mobile phone by street criminals in broad daylight near the highly sensitive Bilawal House area in Clifton.

According to an application submitted to the SHO concerned, APP Crime Reporter Fahim Ali Chandio stated that the incident took place on Friday at around 6:00 pm when he was returning home on foot after a workout.

He said he was walking on the service road near Bilawal House in Clifton Block-2 when two unidentified men riding a motorcycle intercepted him. The suspects, dressed in Shalwar Kameez with scarves draped over their shoulders, suddenly snatched his mobile phone and sped away.

The incident occurred in broad daylight in a crowded area, raising serious questions over the performance of law enforcement agencies and the effectiveness of surveillance mechanisms in one of the city’s most heavily monitored zones.

The crime scene is located close to Bilawal House, considered one of the most sensitive areas in Karachi due to strict security arrangements and the installation of multiple Safe City surveillance cameras.

Despite the presence of extensive security infrastructure and CCTV coverage, street criminals continue to strike fearlessly, exposing glaring loopholes in the city’s policing and monitoring system.

The victim has urged police authorities to investigate the incident, trace the suspects through available CCTV footage and Safe City cameras, and ensure the recovery of the stolen mobile phone.

The latest incident has further intensified concerns among citizens over the unchecked rise in street crimes in Karachi, where robberies and snatching cases continue unabated even in supposedly secure localities.