Tragic Toll of Extortion: 25-Year-Old Security Guard Shot Dead Near Malir’sMemon Mall

KARACHI - A 25-year-old security guard lost his life on Thursday afternoon, October 1, 2026 after unidentified armed men opened fire near Memon Mall in the Malir area, in what police suspect was a targeted killing linked to extortion ("bhatta") demands.

The victim, identified as Abdul Rehman, was deployed at a private commercial complex near Memon Mall when two armed assailants on a motorcycle approached the premises. According to preliminary police investigations, the gunfire erupted after local shopkeepers and security personnel allegedly resisted extortion demands made by a criminal group operating in the area.

Rehman sustained multiple gunshot wounds to the upper body and succumbed to his injuries while being rushed to a nearby hospital.

Law enforcement agencies, including local police and crime scene investigators, arrived at the scene shortly after the incident, securing the area and collecting bullet casings for forensic analysis. Investigators are reviewing CCTV footage from nearby commercial establishments to identify the perpetrators.

"Initial evidence suggests the shooting is connected to an ongoing extortion dispute," said a senior police officer present at the scene. "We have launched a comprehensive investigation and raids are underway to apprehend those involved."

Extortion demands targeting small businesses and private security personnel have remained a persistent security challenge in several commercial pockets of the city, prompting local trade associations to call for heightened security measures and immediate arrest of the culprits.

No group has officially claimed responsibility for the attack yet, and further investigations are underway.

In response to the tragic incident, local community leaders and business owners gathered outside the market area to voice their outrage over the worsening law and order situation. Demanding justice for Abdul Rehman and increased police patrolling in Malir’s commercial belts, traders warned that failure to dismantle extortion networks would force them to shut down markets in protest.