‘Gangster Gogi Butt’ arrested with accomplices

Case registered on charges of terrorism, possession of illegal weapons

LAHORE:

Police on Wednesday claimed to have arrested a 'notorious gangster’, Aqeel Butt alias Gogi, along with several accomplices during a raid on a house in Canal View Housing Society.

A CIA police Iqbal Town team led the action and an FIR of terrorism, carrying illegal weapons and other offences was registered in Mustafa Town police station.

CIA Inspector Mazhar Iqbal stated in the report that he received a tip from an informer that three proclaimed offenders in murder cases, Umair Malik, Hassan Butt and Imran Lalu, were hiding at the dera of Gogi Butt in the Canal View society.

When the police raided the place, suspects Gogi Butt, Haji Ashfaq and others resorted to heavy firing on seeing them, the official stated.

After the firing stopped following warnings from the raiding team, the police arrested Gogi Butt, Haji Ashfaq and 13 other suspects. A large number of weapons were also seized during the raid.

The names of Gogi and his brother Teefi Butt have surfaced repeatedly in the past in connection with enmities and the ‘underworld’ in Lahore. He had been accused of involvement in murders, land grabbing, extortion, sheltering criminals and other offences.

He is also known for having an enmity over influence in the Walled City with the 'Truckanwala' family.

According to police officials, Baba and Hanifa who had allegedly murdered Billa Truckanwala were part of his gang. Gogi was also accused of orchestring multiple attacks on Tipu Truckanwala, son of Billa, including one that took place outside Aiwan-e-Iqbal. The attack left Tipu severely injured and at least four people dead.

Tipu was later murdered in the parking area of Allama Iqbal International Airport reportedly after he returned from Dubai.

Tipu’s son Balaj Amir Tipu is now reportedly heading his grandfather’s group.

Some years back, he was accused of resorting to heavy firing outside the houses of Gogi and Teefi Butt.

Published in The Express Tribune, May 6^th, 2021.