Teefi Butt arrested after 19 months on the run

Mastermind of high-profile Lahore killing nabbed by help of Interpol

LAHORE:

Punjab Police, with the assistance of Interpol, have arrested Khawaja Tareef Gulshan, alias Teefi Butt, from Dubai nearly 19 months after the high-profile assassination of Ameer Balaj Tipu, son of the late Tipu Truckanwala.

According to senior police officials, the arrest took place late Friday night and represents a key development in one of Lahore's most sensational murder cases, marked by custodial killings, legal battles, and violent reprisals.

Extradition proceedings have been initiated under a Red Notice, with authorities expecting Butt's transfer to Pakistan within days. He is likely to face interrogation by the Counter Crime Department (CCD).

Following the arrest, Additional Inspector General CCD Sohail Zafar Chattha wrote to Capital City Police Officer (CCPO) Bilal Siddique Kamyana, seeking to transfer the case from the existing Joint Investigation Team (JIT) to the CCD. Sources said the move was aimed at consolidating investigative resources, given the case's complex links to organized crime and long-standing rivalries in Lahore.

The killing of 32-year-old Balaj Tipu unfolded on February 19, 2024, during a wedding ceremony at a private housing society near Thokar Niaz Baig. Witnesses recounted how Muzaffar Hussain, a former enforcer for Teefi Butt, approached Balaj under the pretext of greeting him and suddenly opened fire at close range.

Balaj, known for his social media presence and political aspirations, was rushed to hospital but succumbed to his injuries. His bodyguard retaliated instantly, killing Hussain on the spot, while two other guests were injured.