KARACHI: A 15-year-old Afghan boy was allegedly killed by a flat-owner in Karachi’s Karimabad area on Sunday after he reportedly demanded Rs 25 for cleaning the flat’s staircase, police said. Ayaz Malik, the resident of old Karimabad, opened fire on the boy after the latter asked to be paid for cleaning the flat’s staircase, the Senior Superintendent of Police (SSP) Karachi Central said.

Noor Agha, 15, was gunned down allegedly by flat owner Ayaz Malik Jeewa, said Azizabad SHO Jamal Leghari.

The officer said that the victim was an Afghan scavenger who, along with his brother Umer and others — all residents of Machar Colony of Sohrab Goth—tended to collect garbage from the localities in Karimabad in return of a few rupees per family. On Sunday, Noor Agha and his colleague Naimat washed staircase of a flat owned by Ayaz Malik and demanded Rs 25 in return of their services.

However, the suspect took reportedly out his pistol and shot him before fleeing the crime scene. The suspect allegedly locked the door of his flat and managed to escape, leaving behind the injured Afghan boy at the doorstep of his flat. He was rushed to Abbasi Shaheed Hospital where doctors pronounced him as dead.

Azizabad police have registered the murder case against the suspect on complaint of the victim’s brother, Umer, while efforts are underway for the arrest of the culprit—INP