Two cops among five arrested in Karachi for murder of PML-N worker

Separately, police take seven-member motorcycle lifter gang into custody

KARACHI: At least five suspects, including two policemen, were arrested for their alleged involvement in the murder of Pakistan Muslim League-Nawaz's (PML-N) worker in Karachi. Meanwhile, the Anti-Car Lifting Cell (ACLC) claim to have busted on Saturday a gang of motorcycle lifters.

Abid Tanoli, a worker of the PML-N and a former Police Qaumi Razakar was shot dead in an act of targeted killing on June 30 in Baldia Town by unidentified persons. The police had seized empty shells of the 9mm pistol used in the crime and had initiated further investigation.

District Central SSP Irfan Baloch and District West SSP Dr Rizwan Khan, while addressing a joint press conference, said the police initially arrested three suspects, Daniyal alias Dani, Imran alias Chawwani and Ayaz alias Aafi, and also seized a weapon used in the killing.



The police sent the weapon to the forensic division of the Sindh police for a ballistics cross-match which confirmed that the same weapon was used to kill Tanoli. Police said that the suspects planned to kill the victim to avenge the arrest of one of the suspects, Ayaz.

Police officials said that two more suspects, police constables Zubair and Nayab, who are part of the gang, were also arrested later. Constable Zubair was posted at the Ittehad Town police while Nayab was posted at the Counter-Terrorism Department, said the police, adding that the suspects confessed to the murder of at least six people and were involved in various cases of extortion and vehicle snatching. Cases against them were registered while further investigation is under way.

Separately, ACLC police claim to have busted a seven-member gang of motorcycle lifters allegedly involved in lifting of dozens of vehicles. During raids conducted in the Sher Shah and Hub River Road areas, the law enforcers also claim to have recovered over two dozen stolen motorcycles.



The arrested men were identified as Mohsin Jutt, Rizwan Mughal, Rashid Baloch, Siraj Mengal, Khalid Khokhar, Waseem Abbas and Abdul Qadir. According to ACLC chief SSP Asad Raza, one of the suspects, Khokhar, has a criminal record and has been arrested at least five times in the past. Raza added that Khokhar was wanted in at least nine cases.

The officer said that the Khokhar used to change the registration number of vehicles after stealing them and later sold them in Khuzdar, Baluchistan. The suspect's cousin, who is a lawyer by profession, used to help him get bail, said Asad.

Another arrested suspect, Mughal, also has a criminal record. He has been arrested twice and is wanted in over six cases.

Police said Abbas is an imposter and the police seized a fake identity card of the Pakistan Navy from his possession.

The suspects are professional motorcycle lifters and have been involved in various cases of motorcycle lifting, the police confirmed.

Cases against them were registered while further investigation is under way.