Panel formed to probe gang murder

Move follows growing concerns regarding integrity of investigations

LAHORE:

Police have formed a "panel of officers" to conduct a thorough investigation into the murder of Javed Butt, the brother-in-law of notorious figure Teefi Butt.

Butt was shot dead in what authorities suspect was a contract killing linked to an ongoing feud with the Truckanwala family.

The panel consists of two Superintendents of Police (SPs) and two Deputy Superintendents of Police (DSPs) selected for their impartiality.

The members include SP Shehzad Rafiq Awan, SP Rana Zahid, DSP Iftikhar Rasool Bajwa, and DSP Ijaz Ahmed Dhilon.

They will investigate all aspects of the case following approval from DIG Investigation Zeeshan Asghar.

The inquiry comes in light of disturbing confessions from the arrested shooters, Azhar and Ilyas, who revealed they were contracted for the murder by Ameer Muasab, son of Tipu Truckanwala.

The shooters stated they were promised Rs500,000 and two valuable houses to carry out the killing, highlighting the brutal nature of the crime.

Investigators have uncovered that Ameer Muasab fled Pakistan six days before Javed Butt's murder, allegedly as part of a premeditated plan.

Despite his escape, he reportedly maintained contact with the shooters throughout the crime. The connection to Muasab was established through Arif, a former associate who facilitated the meeting between the shooters and Muasab, though Arif remains at large.

Javed Butt's murder is set against the backdrop of a 30-year-old feud that reignited following the murder of Ameer Balaj, the son of Tipu Truckanwala, who was shot dead at a wedding in Lahore in February this year.

The violence has escalated into a series of retaliatory killings.

Butt was ambushed near the Muslim Town underpass, resulting in his immediate death, while his wife sustained injuries in the attack. Their daughter fortunately escaped unharmed.