Criminal syndicate posing as online taxi drivers busted in Karachi

KARACHI: Police on Wednesday claimed to have arrested four people belonging to a “criminal gang” aimed at robbing customers of an online taxi service, ARY News reported.

The four suspects namely Ejaz, Sajid, Umer and Fawad were using a cover of online taxi drivers to rob passengers of their valuables, Senior Superintendent (SSP) East Ghulam Azfar Mahesar told media.

“Ejaz drove for a private online cab hailing service in Karachi and the group primarily targeted female passengers,” revealed SSP East.

Ejaz harassed and robbed a girl from Lahore on June 3, the phone was recovered with the help of the technical team at District East police station, the charges against the accused read. Ejaz was also carrying an illegal weapon, the charges entail.

The group has also been found involved in tampering with the national identification database being controlled and regulated by National Database and Registration Authority, Pakistan (NADRA).

The accused were also making fake driving licenses using Adobe Photoshop with help of the official driving license branch website, the police officer added.

“The accused used to change complete online identity of the driver including his picture and telephone number,” said SSP East.

SSP East also alleged that one of the criminals caught in the successful operation is himself a franchise owner for the private online taxi service.

“Umer who has been identified as a franchisee of the online cab hailing service is also among the accused, told SSP East Capt. Ghulam Azfar Mahaesar.

Further investigations revealed that prime accused Ejaz belonged to a family of criminals and his brother and father have remained notorious thugs and target killers.

“His family members are still wanted by police station in Orangi,” revealed SSP East Karachi.

“Ejaz’s brother has been killed due to criminal activities in the past.”

Cases have been registered against the cab hailing service’s Karachi franchise and the group involved has been taken into custody.