Operation continues: Law enforcers arrest another 80 suspects

These include alleged militants of banned outfits, gangsters and drug peddlers

KARACHI: Law enforcement agencies seem to have intensified their anti-criminal crackdowns and claim to have arrested another 80 suspects, including alleged militants affiliated with banned outfits, gangsters and drug peddlers.

Four terrorists belonging to banned outfits were apprehended during targeted raids conducted by Rangers in Saddar and North Nazimabad. Similarly, three criminals, including members of a Lyari-based gang and a drug peddler, were arrested in targeted raids conducted by Rangers in Sharafi Goth and Orangi Town. The suspects were shifted to undisclosed locations for further questioning. Their identities were, however, not disclosed. A Rangers spokesperson said that weapons were also seized from their possession.

Separately, East district investigation police claimed to have arrested five suspects, including target killers of Karachi Metropolitan Corporation (KMC) and fire department officials. The arrests were made during separate raids and were disclosed during a press conference held by District East Investigation SSP Zulfiqar Maher at his office on Tuesday evening. SSP Maher said that the two suspects, Bilal Zafar Farooqui and Siddiq Baba, were arrested over their involvement in the targeted killing of KMC’s additional director, Arshad Hussain, and fire station officer Ghulam Fareeduddin.



Speaking about investigating the blind murder of a media executive, Sadaf Akhtar,40, who was killed inside her house in PIB Colony about a couple of months ago, SSP Maher said that the police have also arrested her alleged murderers during a raid at Rahim Yar Khan. SSP Maher said that the arrested couple, Nadeem and his wife, Nafisa, had killed the victim and later robbed cash, jewellery and other valuables from her house.

In another raid, the investigation police arrested another accused, namely Asad, who killed his friend, Uzair, in Bahadurabad locality in September over a personal dispute.

Meanwhile, the law enforcement agencies apprehended nearly 70 suspects during the ongoing raids and operations in different parts of the city, including Manghopir and Natha Khan Goth.

The operation was conducted on a tip-off about the presence of militants of banned outfits and narcotics dealers. The suspects were taken into custody during door-to-door search operation while entire localities were cordoned off during the operation hours and no one was allowed to enter or exit the areas during the operation. The suspects were later shifted to undisclosed locations for further interrogation. Weapons and narcotics were also seized from their possession.

Published in The Express Tribune, November 25^th,  2015.