Men who took away Arshad Pappu were in Rangers uniforms, reveals former SHO

Former SHO Javed Baloch nominated for gangster’s murder sent on remand.

KARACHI: The men who kidnapped Arshad Pappu before his murder were wearing Pakistan Rangers’ uniforms, revealed former SHO Javed Baloch, who has been nominated for the murder of the notorious Lyari gangster.

Baloch’s arrest was disclosed at a joint press conference by the police and Rangers on Sunday. He was later taken to an undisclosed location for interrogation where he reportedly confessed to his involvement in the abduction and murder of Arshad Pappu on March 16. During the investigations, Baloch also gave a CD that contains the video in which Pappu is being tortured and then killed, said a police investigator. Pappu, his brother Yasir and their close aide Shera Pathan were picked up from the house of a sub-inspector in DHA, the policeman said, adding that Pappu and his brother were taken to Afshani Gali where they were tortured for over an hour before being beheaded with a sword.



“Policemen, such as Baloch, are tarnishing the police force’s image and demoralising other personnel,” said DSP Shakeel Ahmed.

Remand

On Monday, the police investigators brought Baloch to an anti-terrorism court for remand. Baloch will be in police custody till October 7.

Investigating officer Muhammad Yamin Gujjar told the court that he needed time to interrogate the suspect. Gujjar denied that Baloch had nominated other police officials or Pakistan Peoples Party MNA Shahjehan Baloch in the case. “I have taken his remand to determine his role in the case and nothing else has surfaced during the course of the investigation.”

Following the remand, the court deferred, however, its verdict reserved on the bail application of Shahjehan Baloch till the next hearing. Meanwhile, Peoples Amn Committee chief Uzair Jan Baloch, Habib Jan, Noor Mohammad alias Baba Ladla, his brother Zahid Ladla, Asif Kana, Faisal Pathan, Yasir Pathan and others have been declared absconders.

Published in The Express Tribune, October 1^st, 2013.