Bid to smuggle weapons foiled in Jacobabad

Police mobile with cops, other men related to influential politicians taken into custody

KARACHI:

The Jacobabad police have foiled an attempt to smuggle sophisticated weapons from Balochistan in two vehicles associated with a prominent political figure in Sindh, sources told The Express Tribune.

As per sources, the raid, which was conducted by a team of Jacobabad police on a tip-off on the confluence of borders between Sindh and Balochistan, yielded the arrest of seven people, including three police officers and close relatives of a key political figure in Sindh.

A cache of arms of ammunition, including a kalashnikov assault rifle, a shotgun, and 2,350 bullets, were seized by police from two vehicles – a double-cabin and a police mobile van – in which the suspects were travelling. They are believed to be from Shikarpur and now face arms smuggling charges.

SSP Jacobabad Saleem Shah said that recent police efforts have focused on intercepting illegal activities in the border regions. The weapons seized were reportedly intended to be transported into Sindh from Balochistan. An investigation is underway to determine the ownership of the seized police mobile van, with a joint interrogation team formed for further investigations.

The arrested men have been identified as Zakir Bhiyo, Nabeel Bhiyo, Akhtar Ali Lashari, and Toufeeq Ahmed Gujjar, all relatives of an influential political figure of Sindh. Moreover, police officers mobile in-charge Imtiaz Ali Bhiyo, Sana Ullah, and Baqa Ullah have also been reportedly found involved in the smuggling attempt.

A press conference was initially planned by police to announce the weapons smuggling bid, however, it has been postponed due to political pressure and concerns surrounding the identification of the seized police mobile. This delay in holding the press conference to announce the cache, has raised questions about the transparency of the investigation and the influence of political figures on law enforcement agencies and their efforts against illegal activities.

Published in The Express Tribune, April 21^st, 2024.