Qasba Aligarh massacre

Qasba Aligarh Massacre
Part of Violence against Muhajirs
LocationQasba Colony
Date14 December 1986
2:30 PM – 4:30 AM
Attack type
Mass shooting
Deaths49-400+
PerpetratorsAfghans in Pakistan

The Qasba–Aligarh massacre was an ethnic massacre that took place when recently settled armed tribals attacked densely populated locals in Qasba Colony, Aligarh Colony, Sajidabad and Sector 1-D of Orangi in Karachi in the early hours of the morning on 14 December 1986. According to official reports, around 49 people (400+ according to unofficial reports) were killed and several hundred were injured in what was perceived as a "revenge killing" following an unsuccessful raid on an Afghan heroin processing and distribution center in Sohrab Goth by the security forces who were met with violent retaliation. As part of the operation, the security forces surrounded the area with bulldozers destroying illegally encroached houses and removing the residents. Most of the residents of the two colonies who were attacked as a result happened to be Muhajirs like Biharis who had been freshly repatriated from Bangladesh.