Karachi trader fakes own death, kills labourer to escape debt: police

KARACHI: A debt-ridden rice trader in Karachi allegedly staged his own death by murdering an innocent labourer and burning his body inside a car in Surjani Town, police said, in a case that has exposed a chilling attempt to escape creditors.

Karachi District West police said they had solved the mystery of the burnt body found inside a vehicle and arrested the alleged mastermind, identified as Zeeshan Naz, along with his employee Mustafa, also known as Zaigham.

According to police, Zeeshan, a rice trader, was under heavy debt and initially planned to take his own life by jumping into the sea. However, his employee allegedly stopped him and helped devise a plan to fake Zeeshan’s death instead.

SSP West Tariq Elahi Mastoi said the suspects picked up a poor labourer, Qurban Hussain, from Mazdoor Chowk in North Karachi on the morning of July 27 after luring him with the promise of work and money. Qurban, 38, had a disability in one hand.

Police said the suspects took him to an isolated location and forced him to consume a poisonous tablet commonly used to protect rice from insects. When his condition deteriorated, the suspects allegedly strangled him inside the car.

After killing him, the suspects tried to conceal the victim’s identity and make the body appear to be that of Zeeshan. Police said they shaved Qurban’s moustache, changed his clothes, and placed Zeeshan’s mobile phone, wallet and other personal belongings near the body.

The suspects then sprinkled petrol on the body and the vehicle before setting the car on fire. A gas cylinder was also placed inside the car in an apparent attempt to make the incident look like an accident or suicide.

However, the plan began to unravel when Zeeshan himself suffered burn injuries while setting the vehicle on fire. His accomplice, Zaigham, reportedly fled the scene after Zeeshan was injured.

Initially, investigators believed the charred body was that of Zeeshan Naz. However, police later used modern technology, biometric verification and technical evidence to establish that the victim was actually Qurban Hussain.

After the incident, Zeeshan allegedly hid inside the premises of Aga Khan Hospital and shaved his head and beard to avoid identification. Police said hospital security staff spotted a suspicious man and detained him. He later contacted his wife, which helped investigators trace and arrest him.

Police said further investigation is under way.