January 4, 2006	Wednesday	Zilhaj 3, 1426

KARACHI, Jan 3: The police on Tuesday claimed to have solved the Soneri Bank robbery case committed last month in the limits of New Town police station. They have arrested four suspects besides having recovered some of the looted cash.

Over Rs2.7 million were looted from the Soneri Bank branch near Chandni Chowk opposite the old Sabzi Mandi on Dec 31, 2005.

The TPO Gulshan-i-Iqbal, Athar Rasheed Butt, said the bank’s cashier was involved in the robbery. He had provided inside information of the bank to his accomplices, the police added.

The TPO said the police had doubt about the cashier, Pervaiz Ahmed, who initially denied that he had a cellphone. It later turned out that he was hiding his cellphone.

The police raided his house recovering Rs100,000 and a cellphone. During interrogation, he provided information about his other accomplices.

Police said the gang’s ring leader was identified as Shahzad alias Shahbaz who was arrested resulting in the recovery of Rs380,000.

Police also arrested suspects Zakir Ali, Imran. Two other suspects identified as Zubair alias Bakri and Zubair Kala are still absconding.

The TPO said four months back, Zubair alias Bakri had left his job as messenger from the same branch of the Soneri Bank.

The police have recovered three TT pistols and a car bearing a fake number, ACE-074, form their possession whereas its original number was AGX-468. The car had been stolen from the limits of Nazimabad police station last month.