Police investigate viral video showing armed youths threatening passersby in DHA

KARACHI: A video circulating on social media showing young men pointing firearms at citizens, including women and girls, and intimidating passersby in Karachi’s Defence Housing Authority (DHA) has prompted a police inquiry and drawn the attention of Sindh Home Minister Zia-ul-Hassan Lanjar.

Sindh Home Minister Zia-ul-Hassan Lanjar took notice of the viral video and directed the Deputy Inspector General (DIG) of Police, South Zone, to submit a report on the incident.

The home minister ordered the immediate identification of the youths seen in the video and called for a thorough investigation into its authenticity and the circumstances surrounding its circulation.

Lanjar said anyone found intimidating or harassing citizens by displaying weapons must be brought to justice. He directed the relevant authorities to ensure legal action against those involved if the incident was established to be genuine.

Police claimed that preliminary investigations suggest that the viral videos may have been generated using artificial intelligence (AI).

Police said the video was shared on social media a day earlier, but the account that posted it was subsequently deleted. The post reportedly claimed that its content was AI-generated and intended solely for entertainment purposes.

DSP Darakhshan is conducting an inquiry into the matter, police said, adding that investigators had identified a café featured in the video and were seeking its CCTV footage to establish the facts.

The investigation is under way to determine whether the footage depicts an actual incident or was generated using AI.

Read More: Woman found dead in Karachi’s Defence Phase 8

Earlier, the body of a woman was found in a flat located in Defence Phase 8, ARY News reported, citing police.

According to the police, the deceased was identified as 36-year-old Shumaila. Preliminary investigations suggest that she committed suicide by severing her hamstrings.

Police transferred the body to Jinnah Postgraduate Medical Centre (JPMC).

An investigation has been launched to gather further information about the woman, her family, and the circumstances that led to the incident.