A string of shocking criminal activities has come to light in the Mustafa murder case, exposing the accused, Armaghan, as a seasoned offender involved in extortion, kidnapping, drug dealing, and illegal possession of weapons.

Armaghan, notorious for his violent tendencies from a young age, allegedly thrived on extortion, firing weapons over minor disputes, and kidnapping for ransom.

Known for parading through the streets in luxury cars with a convoy of armed security guards, he struck fear in Karachi’s affluent neighbourhoods.

A history of crime and fear

Armaghan entered the world of crime in 2019 at the age of 24. That same year, Murtaza Tafsir, a resident of Karachi’s Defence Phase 8, received an extortion demand of Rs150,000.

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Assuming it was a prank call, he hung up — only for Armaghan and his accomplice Bilal ‘Tension’ to show up in person, threatening to kill Murtaza and his children before fleeing.

Despite an FIR being lodged at Sahil Police Station, the accused remained at large.

When extortion didn’t yield enough, Armaghan turned to drug trafficking.

In 2019, Customs authorities filed two cases against him for smuggling illegal substances. Though arrested, he served just one year in prison before being released.

His criminal record worsened in 2023 when he opened fire on a civilian named Riaz over a simple case of overtaking on the road.

Bullets burst a tyre and struck the driver’s seat, yet Riaz miraculously survived.

While bystanders momentarily caught Armaghan, he apologised and managed to escape.

Once again, an FIR was lodged — this time at Darakhshan Police Station — but law enforcement failed to apprehend him.

Mustafa’s disappearance and ransom demand

The case took a darker turn on January 6, when 23-year-old Mustafa went missing from Khayaban-e-Mohafiz.

Given that Mustafa and Armaghan were close friends, his mother contacted Armaghan, suspecting foul play.

Shortly after, she received a call from an international number demanding Rs20 million in ransom.

Authorities, including CPLC and AVCC, immediately launched an investigation. On February 8, a raid was conducted at Armaghan’s residence in Khayaban-e-Momin.

The suspect opened fire on police officers, injuring DSP Ahsan Zulfiqar and a security guard before being subdued.

Along with Armaghan, two household staff members were also arrested.

Disturbing discoveries

The raid uncovered a shocking arsenal — over 3,000 rounds of ammunition, sniper rifles, and 14 types of sophisticated firearms.

Investigators also seized more than 60 laptops and 10 call centre headsets, hinting at possible cybercrime links.

The most damning evidence came in the form of Mustafa’s blood-stained clothes and mobile phone found inside the house.

During interrogation, Armaghan falsely claimed he had killed Mustafa three days prior and dumped the body in Malir.

However, Mustafa’s car and corpse were later discovered in Balochistan’s Dureji area. Following these revelations, a court placed Armaghan in judicial remand, temporarily halting further investigations.

Authorities remain unable to trace the origins of his vast wealth, fleet of luxury vehicles, and private security detail. The presence of such a large cache of weapons at his residence also raises alarming questions.