25 Sacrificial Goats Worth Rs1.9m Stolen in Karachi

Karachi police said on Monday that 25 sacrificial goats valued at around Rs1.9 million were stolen from Gulistan-i-Jauhar, making the incident one of the most discussed pre-Eid crime reports from the city. The theft took place in Block 8, where the animals had been kept ahead of Eid ul Adha sales.

According to police, the owner had purchased the goats and placed them on an empty plot, while also hiring a watchman to guard the animals. The arrangement appeared to be part of seasonal livestock activity that increases across Karachi before Eid, when traders and individual sellers bring sacrificial animals into residential and commercial areas.

Malir Cantt Station House Officer Agha Abdul Rasheed told Dawn that three to four suspects arrived at the site in a Suzuki van on Saturday night. The suspects allegedly removed all the goats from the plot and fled the area before the theft could be stopped.

The watchman later told police that he was awake during the incident but was overpowered by the suspects. According to the account shared with investigators, the men covered his face with a cloth and forcibly took the animals away, suggesting the theft was planned rather than an opportunistic street crime.

Police officials said they had collected CCTV footage from the area and advised the owner to register a first information report so formal proceedings could begin. However, investigators said the owner had so far appeared hesitant to pursue the case through an FIR, which could slow down the legal process.

The case has gained attention because sacrificial animals become high-value targets in the weeks before Eid ul Adha. Goats, cows and other livestock are moved across cities during this period, creating a temporary but lucrative market that can attract organised thieves, street criminals and transport-linked robbery networks.

Karachi has witnessed similar incidents in previous years. In 2024, a truck carrying sacrificial goats was hijacked in Gulistan-i-Jauhar after armed men intercepted the vehicle near Kamran Chowrangi. In that case, the driver was robbed of cash and a mobile phone before the suspects took away goats reportedly worth around Rs1.5 million.

The latest theft also highlights the security challenges faced by small livestock traders and buyers who keep animals in open plots, streets or makeshift holding areas. Many such locations lack proper surveillance, secure fencing or trained guards, leaving expensive animals exposed during late-night hours.

For citizens, the incident may increase concern ahead of Eid as families prepare to purchase sacrificial animals at already high prices. A theft of this scale can raise insurance, transport and security costs for sellers, while also contributing to anxiety among buyers who keep animals outside their homes.

Police are expected to review the CCTV footage and trace the route of the Suzuki van used in the theft. The next major development will depend on whether the owner formally files an FIR and whether investigators can identify the suspects through footage, witness statements and local surveillance records.