Uzair Baloch’s former right-hand man arrested during raid

Suspect is ex-joint secretary of the Fish Harbour labour union and also was an active member of the Lyari gang war

KARACHI: Law enforcement agencies reportedly arrested on Wednesday a suspect who is considered to be a close associate of notorious gang-leader Uzair Baloch.

The suspect, identified as Waseem Ahmed, was reportedly arrested during a raid at the Karachi Fisheries and is believed to be the former right-hand man of Lyari gang leader Uzair Baloch. The law enforcers reportedly took him into custody on charges of financing gangsters. The money used to finance the gangsters was allegedly misappropriated from the fisheries department.



The accused is a former joint secretary of the Collective Bargaining Agent Union of the Fish Harbour and also was an active member of the Lyari gang war during the tenure of former chairperson of the Fishermen Society, Abdul Saeed Khan. He was also an official of the Officer's Association Union at the fisheries department and used to handle matters related to European countries.

The accused has been shifted to undisclosed location; however, no law enforcement agency has taken responsibility for the arrest.

Meanwhile, two suspected gangsters were killed on Wednesday in an encounter with the Rangers in Tharu Lane in Lyari. The Rangers spokesperson said that the gangsters tried to escape under the cover of fire but due to heavy retaliatory fire by the Rangers, they were killed. Their bodies were taken to Civil hospital for autopsies where they were later identified as Younus alias Zohaib alias Obama and Farooq alias Farooqa. The spokesperson said that both the gangsters belonged to the Jamil Changa sub-group of the Uzair Baloch group of Lyari gangsters, adding that they were involved in multiple targeted killings, as well as firing on police personnel, grenade attacks and extortion.

Weapons and ammunition were also recovered from their possession. A Rangers' personnel was also injured during the exchange of fire but his condition is stable, said the spokesperson.

Published in The Express Tribune, March 3^rd, 2016.