WWII Memorial Shields Stolen from Karachi’s Historic Frere Hall
WWII Memorial Shields Stolen from Karachi’s Historic Frere Hall
KARACHI: Several World War II memorial shields and other valuable items were stolen from the Karachi Metropolitan Corporation (KMC) Parks Department office housed in the city’s historic Frere Hall, it emerged on Saturday.
The theft occurred during the Ashura holidays, and a first information report (FIR) was lodged on July 7 at the Artillery Maidan police station under Section 380 (theft in a dwelling) of the Pakistan Penal Code.
According to the FIR, the stolen items include five WWII memorial shields, a DVD player, a speaker, and a copper cable connected to a valuable shield. The deputy director of the KMC Parks Department stated that the office had been closed at 10pm on July 4 for the holidays. When staff returned on the morning of July 7, they discovered that a rear window had been broken and the items were missing.
Frere Hall, built in 1865, is one of Karachi’s most iconic colonial-era buildings and underwent a US-funded restoration last year. The building holds cultural and historical significance, making the loss of the wartime memorabilia particularly concerning.
South Deputy Inspector General (DIG) Syed Asad Raza confirmed that a suspect had been identified and efforts were underway to bring him in for questioning. “A contractor, under whose supervision the stolen items were kept, has also been summoned for investigation,” he told Dawn.com.
DIG Raza added that the DG Parks had yet to provide further details, but promised to meet police officials on Monday. “CCTV footage is being reviewed and local scrap markets within Frere police jurisdiction have been checked. Informants have been tasked as well,” he said, expressing hope for a breakthrough soon.
The theft highlights ongoing concerns about the security of Karachi’s historical sites, many of which lack modern surveillance or round-the-clock protection.
Incidents of theft and attempted robbery remain frequent in Karachi. In May, security guards foiled an attempt to steal a pole-mounted transformer in Keamari, shooting one suspect dead and injuring another, while the remaining accomplices fled the scene.
