Targeted raids: Police arrest five suspected hitmen

Member of MQM's Federal B Area sector also detained from Karimabad

KARACHI: Five alleged hitmen among seven suspects were apprehended during the ongoing targeted raids in different parts of the metropolis on Wednesday.

The arrests were disclosed by Counter-Terrorism Department (CTD) in-charge SSP Naveed Khawaja during a press conference at his office on Wednesday evening. The arrests were made after an exchange of fire when the CTD team conducted a raid on a tip-off in Korangi.

The arrested suspects were identified as Umair Baig alias Farman alias Chashmu, Mairaj, Afzal, Waleed and Zubair alias Nawab.

Five pistols were also recovered from their possession. SSP Khawaja said that the suspects arrested are paid killers, who revealed to have killed several people in various localities in the metropolis, including Korangi, New Karachi, Malir and Surjani. Cases were registered against them while further investigations are underway.

Separately, law enforcement agencies have apprehended a member of the Muttahida Qaumi Movement's Federal B Area sector, Ayub Tabani, during a raid conducted near Karimabad locality.

Tabani was later shifted to an undisclosed location. Though the Rangers spokesperson was not available for comments, the MQM's Coordination Committee strongly condemned the arrest of Tabani.

Similarly, an alleged member of the Uzair Baloch group of a Lyari-based gang was arrested during a raid conducted by law enforcers in Lyari neighbourhood.

The accused was identified as Kalia who was wanted by the police in several cases of crime.

Published in The Express Tribune, October 29^th, 2015.