Feared 'Arif gang' busted in Swabi

SWABI:

A shadowy criminal network accused of orchestrating nearly 20 murders has been dismantled after police arrested its alleged ringleader in a covert operation.

The suspect, Arif, long considered a symbol of terror in Swabi, was picked up after years on the run. Police say his gang thrived on intimidation, allegedly killing victims and then threatening their families against pursuing legal action a tactic that kept many cases out of official records.

According to investigators, the group would allegedly call bereaved families after a murder, warning them of harm to their children if they registered an FIR. "This climate of fear allowed the gang to operate with impunity for years," a senior officer said.

District Police Officer (DPO) Swabi, Waqas Rafiq, in an interview with The Express Tribune, described the network as "highly organised and deeply embedded" in the local economy.

"Our assessment suggests the gang is involved in around 20 confirmed killings, while there are dozens of other incidents where families never came forward due to threats," he said. "They would kill, then silence the victims' families through intimidation."

He added that for nearly a decade, the gang had been extorting doctors, shopkeepers and business figures across the district.