Afghan national arrested for buying snatched mobile phones in Karachi

KARACHI: In a major operation based on intelligence, Sohrab Goth police arrested an Afghan national ‘involved’ in purchasing mobile phones snatched from citizens across Karachi, ARY News reported on Friday.

According details, the suspect, identified as Jumma Gul, was apprehended after 17 mobile phones were recovered from a concealed compartment in his vehicle’s dashboard.

Authorities also seized a weapon and cash amounting to Rs200,000 from his possession.

Police revealed that Jumma Gul had been purchasing stolen phones from street criminals in Karachi, identified as Mohsin and Jani, who supplied him with 14 to 15 mobile phones daily.

The suspect would buy each phone for Rs7,000 to 8,000 and then sell them to an individual named Umar in Balochistan, earning approximately Rs1,000 profit per device.

During interrogation, the Afghan national confessed that he had been involved in this illegal trade for the past year and was operating as part of a well-organized network with multiple accomplices.

Police officials said that the suspect will be remanded for further investigation to uncover the extent of the network and identify more individuals involved.

Earlier, Defence Minister Khawaja Asif said Afghan nationals are doing illegal businesses in Pakistan and land encroachment.

Speaking in ARY News program, Aiteraz Hai, Khawaja Asif that at the canal where he frequently swims, dump trucks (dumpers) are parked along the banks, owned by Afghans who live in makeshift shelters but have illegally occupied irrigation land.