Friends or Killers? The Mustafa Amir Case in Karachi

_{This image of Mustafa Amir is used under fair use for commentary and discussion under Section 107 of Copyright Act}

Karachi, once known as the "City of Lights," now feels like an abandoned city. When we step outside, we fear both thieves and the police. Thieves openly snatch phones at gunpoint while the police, standing nearby, do nothing. Instead, they often hassle passersby, threatening to accuse them of crimes (like searching for weapons but planting drugs in pockets and accusing innocent people, especially workers like barbers, plumbers, housemaids, or drivers) unless they pay a bribe.

I saw this firsthand near Askari Bank, Block 19, Gulistan-e-Johar. A man leaving the ATM was robbed right in front of the police vehicle, who just stood and watched. Several banks society guards with weapons were also present, but none of them intervened. The bank refused to share the security footage, claiming they didn’t want to get involved in legal issues.

Crime Thrives Even Under Police Watch

Recently, a story went viral in Karachi about a man who went to the police station to report a phone snatching, only to have his bike stolen from the station’s parking lot.

Traffic police are no better. People have even started marking locations on Google Maps to warn others where officers demand bribes under the pretense of random fines. This frustration shows how powerless citizens feel in the face of corruption. Getting justice in Karachi, or anywhere in Pakistan, feels impossible unless you have money. I speak from personal experience with the legal system.

Living in Constant Fear

Whether you're a child, a young adult, or an elder, everyone in Karachi lives in fear. During this chaos, the news broke about Mustafa Amir. He went out with his friends Armaghan and Shiraz, but they killed him, burned his body, and set his car on fire.

Imagine the fear parents feel when they let their children go out with friends. Most of my family lives in Punjab, where the atmosphere feels welcoming. In Karachi, however, parents constantly worry about who their children spend time with.

I still remember the day I heard about Mustafa Amir’s case. I was at a restaurant with my university friends and got home late. My parents and sister were anxious. If my family worries this much about me, a 25-year-old, how do parents of younger children cope with this fear?

What the Media Didn't Tell You About Mustafa Amir

The media doesn’t tell the full story. They sensationalize headlines, making it seem like no place is safe and every friend is a potential killer. But here’s what you might not know about the Mustafa Amir case.

Early reports missed key facts, but new details have emerged. Mustafa Amir wasn’t an ordinary middle-class guy. He was allegedly a drug supplier. Rumors suggest his friends killed him over a dispute involving a girl. Another version says he stole money from a drug lord.

It also raises questions about how they transported an illegal, high-performance car from Karachi to Balochistan without any law enforcement stopping them. How does someone with a father earning 70-80 thousand PKR afford luxury homes?

No One Deserves to Die This Way

I’m not a crime reporter, nor do I trust the Pakistani legal system. But murder is murder, and no one deserves to die like that. Despite all the rumors, one fact remains. He didn’t get justice.

Can We Still Hope for a Safer Future?

I can’t say with absolute certainty who was right or wrong. I can’t tell worried parents not to be afraid when their children leave home.

Death is inevitable, but I haven’t even married yet, let alone had children. Still, when I do, I won’t raise them in fear. I’ll teach them to see the good in people rather than live with suspicion and paranoia.

I believe there are more good people in the world than bad ones. I admire the parents who, despite everything, still let their children play freely and explore the world because, in the end, we are human, not lifeless objects.