Karachi’s tanker mafia

Karachi Water and Sewerage Board (KWSB), had the responsibility of conducting covert reconnaissance missions on his motorcycle throughout the streets of Manghopir, district West. His mission: to identify illegal hydrants and promptly report their locations to the organization's water theft investigation unit. Subsequently, KWSB personnel would launch operations to dismantle these unauthorized hydrants. In one particularly arduous operation in October, their efforts spanned 48 grueling hours and led to the dismantling of seven illegal hydrants.

However, tragedy struck on November 1, 2022, when Furqan, following his routine lunch break at the Manghopir filter plant, was ambushed by armed individuals on his way back. In a heinous act, they fired a fatal shot at him, targeting his head, and made off with his motorcycle. Furqan, a devoted father to a six-year-old girl, fell victim to this violence. While it initially seemed like a routine vehicle snatching incident, suspicions loomed. Furqan's family, out of concern for their safety, declined to provide any statements to Dawn News.

KWSB officials disclosed that they had encountered violent confrontations with illegal hydrant operators during their efforts to curb these illicit activities. One of Furqan's colleagues, recalling a recent raid in Ayub Goth, revealed, "One of them hit me with a large stone during a recent raid in Ayub Goth," as he gingerly touched the top of his head. "I can still feel the depression in my skull. We had two or three police vehicles accompanying us, but they too seem apprehensive of the powerful mafias and refrain from taking action." Furqan's tragic murder has cast a shadow of fear over everyone at the KWSB office. As one KWSB employee stated, "Last Saturday, we were planning to execute a raid against illegal hydrants, but we were instructed to hold off until we obtain more information about who killed him and why."