Couple from Gujranwala shot dead in Karachi

Police recovered the bullet-riddled bodies of a young couple – identified as Sana Muhammad Asif and Sajid Masih – near Karachi’s China Port Boat Basin on July 29, 2025. Hailing from a Gujranwala village, the victims were found executed with a single headshot each, triggering suspicions of an honour killing following their free-will marriage. Investigators believe the perpetrators may be close relatives. The brutal murder has sparked outrage and calls for justice from civil society and human rights groups.

• Date Recovered: July 29, 2025, early morning

• Victims: Sana Muhammad Asif and Sajid Masih, aged approximately. 25–30

• Cause of Death: Execution-style shooting—single gunshot to the head at close range

• Weapon Evidence: Two spent 9mm pistol casings were retrieved from the scene

• Origin: Both from Dakkhana Lala Pul Abdullahpur village, Gujranwala Division, Punjab

• Relationship: Married by choice; family had lodged abduction case days earlier

• Investigation: Authorities suspect the involvement of the woman’s brother and other close relatives

• Law Enforcement: FIR registered in JPMC hospital, full-scale inquiry launched by Boat Basin, Karachi South police, and Rangers

• The bodies were discovered in the deserted China Port vicinity, close to Boat Basin Road.

• SSP South Mahzoor Ali confirmed the victims died of gunshot wounds to the head and face.

• Law enforcement immediately called the crime scene unit, which recovered two 9mm shell casings and other minimal belongings, including a mobile phone and passport-sized photos.

• Victims were transported to Jinnah Postgraduate Medical Centre (JPMC) for post-mortem and forensic examination.

• Sana and Sajid married of their own volition in their village in Gujranwala Division. Shortly after their union, family members filed an abduction FIR against Sajid in Gujranwala’s Tatlay Aali police station.

• Following their disappearance on July 15, the couple relocated to Karachi—presumed to evade family opposition—and were living together when murdered.

• Police suspect the case may fall under honour-based violence, with particular scrutiny on Sana’s brother, Waqas Ali, and his associate Riaz alias Fauji, who have drawn the investigators’ attention.

Law Enforcement Action

• South DIG Karachi, Syed Asad Raza, announced a state FIR to ensure impartial prosecution.

• DSP Clifton Manshiya, DSP Darakhshan Imran Jakirani, and Rangers officers secured the site and launched thorough evidence collection.

Forensic & Legal Process

• Bodies were processed at JPMC, where expert examination will help establish the time and cause of death.

• Police have begun liaising with Gujranwala authorities and contacting victim families to confirm identity and obtain custody of remains. 

• Officials are exploring multiple motives: honour killing, personal vendetta, or disputes.

• Human rights groups and civil society have condemned the brutal murders and demanded urgent law enforcement reform to prevent further violence against couples.

• Women's rights activists issued statements calling for better protection of individuals choosing to marry freely, and for honour-based violence to be criminalized more strictly.

• Online forums and Karachi residents highlighted the city's rising targeted killings and lawlessness, calling for systemic action and accountability.

This tragic double homicide in Karachi—of a young couple who chose to marry freely—brings into sharp relief the devastating consequences of honour-based violence. While married life should offer safety and dignity, many couples remain vulnerable to violent retaliation for defying social norms. The coordinated failure by institutions to protect them underscores the urgency of legal reform, cross-provincial police action, and public education to challenge the cultural acceptance of such crimes.