Three suspects arrested in Karachi doctor murder case, police say

Karachi police have arrested three suspects in the murder of Dr Akash Kumar, a young doctor shot dead during a robbery this week, according to a South Zone police statement issued Wednesday.

Armed men intercepted his vehicle near Teen Talwar in the city's Clifton neighborhood on Monday as he traveled between banks with his father and cousin.

How was Dr Akash Kumar killed?

Dr Kumar had just withdrawn cash from a private bank and was headed with his father and cousin to a second bank when four robbers on two motorcycles blocked their car. One suspect opened the door and shot him before the group fled with the money, police said.

Dr Kumar was a house officer at Jinnah Postgraduate Medical Centre, known as JPMC. His killing prompted protests by doctors at the hospital, and the Pakistan Medical Association condemned the attack. The association described it as a sign of worsening law and order in Karachi.

How did police identify and arrest the suspects?

Officers spotted a suspicious car in Karachi's Defense area on Tuesday night and arrested three suspects after a pursuit, police said. Authorities recovered mobile phones, three pistols and a white Suzuki Alto allegedly used in the attack. The vehicle was fitted with fake registration plates, according to the police statement.

The suspects admitted involvement in the killing during initial questioning, police said. They told investigators they had monitored Dr Kumar before the robbery and received a tip from an accomplice inside the first bank. The alleged insider described the victim's appearance and the amount of cash withdrawn, police said.

That information allowed the group to intercept the vehicle on its way to the second bank, according to police. South Deputy Inspector General Asad Raza and Crime Investigation Agency Deputy Inspector General Muqaddas Haider presented the details at a news conference. Raza said investigators reviewed more than 100 CCTV recordings from across the city to trace the suspects.

Who are the arrested suspects?

Raza identified the arrested men as Suresh, Ram Chand and Anil. He said they had lived in Karachi for some time but originally came from Daharki, Thul and Naushahro Feroze. One suspect had recently been released on bail, another faced trial in a separate case, and a third had previously been declared an absconder, Raza said.

The men belong to a gang involved in robberies and street crime across Karachi and have previous criminal records, police said. Raids are continuing to arrest other alleged accomplices, according to the statement. Raza also ruled out personal enmity as a motive for the killing.

How common are robbery-related killings in Karachi?

Haider said police recorded 30 robbery-related murders in Karachi so far this year, compared with 48 during the same period in 2025. He said such killings had declined by at least 37 percent, and robbery cases involving injuries had fallen by more than 30 percent. Vehicle snatching has also continued to decline since last year, he said.

Raza said robbery-related killings and injuries rose in January and May but fell in June. Police recorded one robbery-related killing and 18 robbery-related injury cases that month. Haider said street crime remains a major issue but has not increased compared with last year.

What happened with the murder case filing?

A murder case was registered Tuesday at Frere Hall Police Station based on a complaint from Dr Kumar's cousin, Sanjay Kumar, according to a copy of the first information report seen by Dawn. The complaint was filed under Sections 34, 397 and 302 of the Pakistan Penal Code.

According to the FIR, the complainant said he, Dr Kumar and the doctor's father had withdrawn cash from a bank before heading to another one. Armed men on two motorcycles stopped their vehicle, fired at a security guard and the driver, then shot Dr Kumar in the back seat before fleeing with the cash. The complainant told police he would be able to identify the attackers.