Karachi saw hike in scale, brazenness of sacrificial animals’ thefts this Eid

Already weary from everyday street crime, traffic chaos and the lingering threat of terrorism, Karachiites face an alarming rise in sacrificial animal thefts and roadside snatching incidents every year as Eidul Azha approaches.

What is supposed to be a time of faith and festivity turns into a season of fear and loss for many residents. Every year incidents of stolen livestock ahead of Eidul Azha are reported from across the city.

This year, however, the scale and brazenness of these crimes intensified. In the past few days alone, nearly half a dozen sacrificial animals were either stolen from homes or snatched at gunpoint from helpless owners.

In most cases, neither the animals nor the culprits were traced. One of the most heart-wrenching incidents occurred near Ayesha Manzil in District Central, where unidentified men held a rickshaw driver at gunpoint, and made off with both the vehicle and the sacrificial sheep being transported.

The story went viral after a video filmed by a passer-by started doing the rounds online. The clip showed the devastated driver sobbing by the roadside. The victim later told the media that he works as a barber and had raised the sheep all year, hoping to sell them before Eid to support his family.

He had just returned from Café Pyala after a failed attempt to sell the animals and was on his way home in Liaquatabad when he was intercepted by the armed suspects. Despite the video gaining attention and senior police officials taking notice, no arrest or recovery was reported.

In another alarming incident, unidentified suspects broke into a residence in the Godhra locality of New Karachi. Holding a resident hostage at gunpoint, they stole livestock worth millions of rupees.

CCTV camera footage showed the suspects arriving on motorbikes and a pickup truck. Though they attempted to take three large animals, limited space allowed them to escape with only two adult animals and a calf.

Another robbery occurred near the Northern Bypass cattle market, where armed men on motorbikes snatched two cows along with the vehicle transporting them. Following the incident, enraged drivers blocked the road in protest, claiming that a police patrol nearby refused to assist, citing restrictions on their assigned duties.

Armed suspects also snatched two sacrificial animals with a Suzuki vehicle at gunpoint in the Water Pump area, within the jurisdiction of the Jauharabad police station. According to reports, the animals were already loaded onto the vehicle when the suspects intercepted it and made off with it.

The affected man said they were coming from the Northern Bypass cattle market after buying two cows when six men on three motorbikes followed them from Sohrab Goth and snatched their animals at gunpoint, along with the Suzuki.

These incidents reflect not only the vulnerability of the city’s residents during an important religious occasion but also the apparent failure of law enforcement agencies to deter or respond effectively to such crimes.

For many, the theft of their sacrificial animals is more than just a financial loss — it’s a spiritual and emotional blow, robbing them of the chance to fulfil an important religious obligation. As Eidul Azha approached this year, residents called for increased police presence, active patrolling and swift action to curb the growing menace of animal thefts. Without decisive measures, the festive spirit might continue to be overshadowed by fear and loss in Pakistan’s largest city.

For many residents, keeping sacrificial animals at home or in neighbourhood alleys is not just a tradition but a cherished part of the Eid celebration. Children feed and care for the animals, and the festive mood builds around their presence. However, the wave of thefts this year forced residents to prioritise safety over sentiment.

“The best thing you can do is keep your animals securely chained. You can’t sit outside your house guarding them 24/7,” said Hamza Ali, a resident of Liaquatabad. “We also coordinated with neighbours to divide time slots among ourselves — morning, evening and night — so there’s always someone around in the street. That way we can at least minimise the risk of theft.”