The death of a ten-year-old girl in a crossfire between robbers and a citizen on 27-May-2025 sparked widespread outrage and protests in Korangi.
The victim, Arfa, daughter of Waqar, was shot during a crossfire that erupted when two armed assailants attempted to snatch a motorcycle from a local resident near Kalu Chowk. The citizen resisted the robbery and opened fire, prompting the robbers to retaliate. Amid the exchange of bullets, Arfa was struck and later succumbed to her injuries.
News of the incident quickly spread, drawing a wave of anger from residents. Arfa’s grieving family staged a protest with her body, blocking a major thoroughfare in Korangi. They were soon joined by dozens of residents who decried the deteriorating law and order situation in the area.
Enraged protesters set tires ablaze and raised slogans against the District Korangi police, accusing them of negligence and repeated failure to protect citizens. The demonstration brought traffic to a standstill between Korangi No 4 and No 5, causing major disruption and chaos for commuters.
The protesters demanded immediate justice and refused to end the protest until the Governor of Sindh took notice of the incident. They also expressed frustration over what they described as a pattern of false promises by the authorities in previous similar cases.
Senior police officials eventually reached the protest site and assured the family and residents that those responsible would be apprehended and brought to justice. Following these assurances, the protest was called off peacefully. The body was later shifted to the Jinnah Postgraduate Medical Centre for legal formalities before being handed over to the family for burial.
The police have registered a case and launched an investigation into the incident. No arrests had been reported as of the filing of this report.
Published in News Daily on 28-May-2025.