Uzair Baloch taken into military custody: ISPR

Former Lyari gangwar leader has been taken into custody on charges of espionage, says DG ISPR

The army took custody of Lyari gang war leader Uzair Baloch, who was arrested by the Rangers from the outskirts of Karachi last year.

In a tweet late Tuesday night, Director General of the Inter-Services Public Relations (ISPR) Major General Asif Ghafoor said that Uzair Baloch was taken into military custody under the Pakistan Army Act 1952 and Official Secret Act, 1923.

He further said that the high-profile criminal was taken into custody on charges of espionage (leakage of sensitive security information to foreign intelligence agencies).

Uzair Baloch taken into military custody under Pakistan Army Act / Official Secret Act - 1923. (1 of 2)

— DG ISPR (@OfficialDGISPR) April 11, 2017

On charges of espionage (leakage of sensitive security information to foreign intelligence agencies). (2 of 2)

— DG ISPR (@OfficialDGISPR) April 11, 2017

The Lyari gang war leader, who has close ties to the Pakistan Peoples Party, had confessed his involvement in killings of rival group members, including Muttahida Qaumi Movement (MQM) workers, supporters and police officials.

Baloch had further stated that several police officers were also working under his influence and a number of PPP leaders were also in his support.

Baloch, a former chief of the defunct Peoples Aman Committee (PAC) who was declared a ‘most-wanted criminal’ by the Sindh government, had been in the custody of the Abu Dhabi police for nearly three months before his arrest.

He was detained in the United Arab Emirates (UAE) based on Interpol’s red-warrant on December 29 2015 at the Dubai-Oman border.