Ongoing operation: Law enforcement agencies arrest two ‘target killers’

Rangers say that one of the suspects was arrested before he could target nine more people

KARACHI: The Counter-Terrorism Department (CTD) of police and the paramilitary force arrested two alleged target killers on Tuesday. The two suspects are believed to be involved in various murder cases of political workers and police officers.

CTD apprehended an alleged target killer, Mirza Abdur Raheem Baig, who was wanted in over half a dozen killings of political party workers. The accused was arrested during a raid in SITE by a CTD police team. CTD incharge Mazhar Mashwani said that during initial interrogation, the accused confessed to murdering at least seven people. The suspect revealed that most of the victims he and his accomplices had killed, belonged to the Muttahida Qaumi Movement (MQM), Mashwani said.

The suspect used to provide information about MQM members and then target them after getting approval from the gangster Uzair Baloch, the CTD official said. The people who he and his accomplices killed included two MQM sector members. Most of the incidents of targeted killings took place in Lyari, Ranchore Lane, Sher Shah and Baldia Town. A case has been registered against him and further investigation is underway.

Separately, Rangers took the member of a banned sectarian outfit into custody during a raid in Golimar. The accused was identified as Zaheer Ahmed alias Piyala. The Rangers spokesperson claimed that the accused was a member of Sipah-e-Sahaba Pakistan and was involved in over 17 cases of targeted killings, including six murders of policemen. The suspect also planned to target at least nine more people but he was arrested before he could carry out his plan, the spokesperson said. The alleged target killer has been taken into 90-day preventive custody by Rangers.

Meanwhile, Aslam Sindhi, who is contesting the upcoming local government elections from Union Council four, Lyari, was reportedly arrested by a law enforcement agency. However, no official from any of the law enforcement agencies confirmed or denied his arrest. He is said to be the brother of Lyari-based gang commander, Ustad Taju.

Published in The Express Tribune, November 18^th, 2015.