Karachi crime surge backdrop to attack on Uzair Baloch’s brother

The latest gun attack in Lyari underscores Karachi’s escalating crime problem. On August 2, unidentified shooters targeted Jubair Baloch, brother of notorious criminal Uzair Baloch, riddling his chest and abdomen with bullets. Two civilians walking nearby were also injured.

Deputy Inspector General Syed Asad Raza confirmed the victims were rushed to medical care and that police are examining whether the assault is linked to gang rivalry, political hostility, or another underlying cause. Jubair has a criminal history that includes seven charges from a 2012 arrest, and he was released in 2025.

Earlier this year, an anti‑terrorism court turned down Uzair Baloch’s bail request in seven cases concerning police encounters, murder, and possession of explosives. A citizens‑police liaison report shows that between January and April, Karachi experienced a wave of thefts: 611 cars, over 13,000 motorcycles, and more than 5,500 mobile phones were reported stolen. Homicides rose to 176, while forced‑collection cases reached 61.

The city’s women and child protection unit also recorded 388 adult and ten minor victims of domestic violence during the same period. Authorities are intensifying investigations to determine any link between the Lyari shooting and the broader surge in criminal activity.