KARACHI: Police’s Counter-Terrorism Department on Saturday claimed to have arrested an alleged drug dealer involved in over 50 criminal cases, who reportedly returned to the city to avenge the killing of his brother in an ‘encounter’ by police, officials said.

Acting on a tip-off, the CTD conducted targeted raid in Shirin Jinnah Colony and arrested “notorious” drug dealer Momin Khan with his five accomplices after an encounter, claimed CTD investigation in-charge Chaudhry Safdar. The other detained suspects were identified as Pervez Khan, Imran Ali, Jan Badshah and Bahadur Sher.

Speaking at a press conference, the counterterrorism force official also claimed to have seized explosive material and hashish from their custody.

Launch of operations in Karachi forced the suspect to flee metropolis before he returned to avenge his brother’s killing

“Momin Khan is a notorious drug dealer who is wanted by the Jackson police, Boat Basin police and police station of the Anti-Narcotics Force in over 50 cases of murder, attempted murder, police encounters, drug sale and other cases,” said Mr Safdar.

After launching of Operation Zarb-i-Azb and Operation Raddul Fasaad, the suspect had left Karachi.

The CTD investigation in-charge pointed out that around six months ago, Momin Khan’s brother Kamal Khan was gunned down in an ‘encounter’ by Jackson police.

According to “credible information”, Momin Khan had come back to Karachi to take “revenge” of his brother’s killing by police and he was being interrogated about this.

In 2012, the Sindh excise police had conducted a targeted raid on an alleged hideout of the detained suspect in Shirin Jinnah Colony. However, Momin Khan with his other accomplices took the raiding team of the excise police hostage and set the official van on fire and destroyed it.

Jackson police registered FIR (78/2012) against the suspect and he was declared an absconder in the case by court.

Moreover, the arrested suspect had gunned down drug peddler Laeeq Khan over “drug business rivalry” in Shirin Jinnah Colony. The Jackson police had registered a murder case against him and he was declared an absconder in the case.

About the alleged criminal record of other arrested suspects, the CTD official claimed that Pervez with his accomplices had allegedly shot dead a police constable, Hasan Ali Shah, in Clifton on suspicion of being a police informer. Boat Basin police had registered the murder case against him.

CTD official Chaudhry Safdar informed the media that to make the city “peaceful”, the department, under directions of CTD DIG Saqib Ismail Memon, had accelerated their efforts against criminals.

Rangers detain two suspects in Lyari

Pakistan Rangers Sindh on Saturday claimed to have arrested two suspected gangsters in the Lyari area.

The paramilitary force arrested two suspects identified as Nazar Abbas, affiliated with the Uzair Baloch-led gang, and Noor Mohammed, alias Noora, linked with the Zahid Ladla-led gang in the Baghdadi area.

They were involved in illegal arms, land-grabbing, mobile phone snatching, aerial firing and other crimes, said the Rangers spokesperson.

Separately, the paramilitary force apprehended three suspects, Mahrullah, Dil Murad and Irfan Ali, in the New Rizvia Society and Sachal areas for their involvement in robberies.

Moreover, the paramilitary force detained two alleged drug peddlers, Mohammed Husain alias Bhindi and Mirza Jan, in Korangi and Surjani Town, respectively.

Illegal weapons, snatched goods and drugs were seized from them. Later on, the held suspects were handed over to the police for further legal action.

Published in Dawn, March 18th, 2018