Karachi police on Monday claimed to have made the first-ever arrest in the city using facial recognition technology, marking a major step forward in the use of artificial intelligence for law enforcement.
According to Deputy Inspector General Syed Asad Raza, an emergency response vehicle (ERV) operator received a real-time alert from the facial recognition system, which had identified a motorcyclist with a known criminal background traveling through an area in the South Zone. While the exact location was not disclosed, the alert triggered immediate action from the ERV team.
The officers on duty stopped the suspect and verified his identity using his computerized national identity card. He was identified as Abdul Azeem, a wanted man with six cases registered against him. These include attempted murder, possession of unlicensed weapons, armed encounters with police, rioting, and terrorism charges. He had also been declared an absconder in previous investigations.
Police sources said Azeem was taken into custody without incident and transferred to the relevant police station for further legal proceedings.
The arrest is being seen as a breakthrough in Karachi’s crime-fighting efforts, showcasing the potential of surveillance and facial recognition technology in tracking fugitives and repeat offenders.
Officials said the facial recognition system, recently integrated with the police’s digital infrastructure, is now being tested across multiple zones in the city to aid rapid identification of suspects on the move.