Karachi Trader Allegedly Stages Death to Escape Rs55 Crore Debt
KARACHI: Police investigating a partially burnt body discovered inside a car near Zero Point in Surjani Town have uncovered what they describe as an alleged attempt by a heavily indebted businessman to fake his own death. The case took a dramatic turn on Tuesday after forensic and biometric checks contradicted the identity initially presented to investigators.
The body was first believed to be that of rice trader Zeeshan Naz because the vehicle belonged to him and several of his personal belongings were found at the scene. Police said a national identity card carrying his name, his mobile phone and a wallet containing more than Rs45,000 were recovered from the car, creating an apparently convincing link to the businessman.
Investigators later determined that the deceased was not Zeeshan. Using biometric verification and other forensic methods, police identified the body as Qurban, a resident of Muzaffargarh who had reportedly been missing for a considerable period. The discovery shifted the inquiry from an apparent death investigation towards a suspected staged-murder plot.
Police said Zeeshan’s wife had initially identified the burnt body as belonging to her husband. Following the forensic findings, she was taken into custody for questioning as investigators sought to establish how the false identification occurred and whether any other individuals had knowledge of or participated in the alleged plan.
According to investigators, the car was set on fire with the help of a gas cylinder. However, the flames did not completely consume the body, reportedly because the vehicle’s air-conditioning system limited the spread of the fire. The remaining physical evidence enabled authorities to conduct the biometric examination that ultimately challenged the original account.
The businessman was reportedly facing debts exceeding Rs55 crore, owed to an estimated 60 to 70 people. Police suspect that the alleged disappearance was designed to convince creditors and investors that he had died, potentially allowing him to avoid repayment demands and remove himself from mounting financial pressure.
A video message was also found on Zeeshan’s mobile phone in which he stated that members of his family had no involvement in his business dealings. Investigators are examining the recording alongside the placement of his belongings in the vehicle to determine whether it formed part of a broader effort to create evidence supporting the impression that he was dead.
The identification of Qurban has introduced a more serious dimension to the case because police must now determine how he died, how his body came to be inside Zeeshan’s vehicle and whether he was deliberately selected for use in the alleged deception. Authorities will also need to trace Zeeshan’s location and verify the full chain of events leading to the discovery of the car.
The case has attracted public attention because it combines a disputed identity, significant financial liabilities and allegations of a carefully constructed death scene. It may also deepen concerns among investors and creditors about informal business arrangements in which large sums are advanced without sufficient documentation, guarantees or regulatory protection.
Police said the investigation remains active, with questioning, forensic analysis and efforts to locate the missing businessman continuing. The next stage is expected to focus on establishing responsibility for Qurban’s death, identifying possible accomplices and determining whether the alleged scheme was primarily intended to deceive investors or conceal additional criminal activity.