Dear reader, online ads enable us to deliver the journalism you value. Please support us by taking a moment to
KARACHI: The army’s announcement that it had taken the custody of suspected Lyari gangster Uzair Jan Baloch came exactly a year after his confessional statement before a judicial magistrate that he had been passing an Iranian agency “secret information” about the Pakistan Army, its intelligence wings and key installations of the country, officials and documents said on Wednesday.
The army on Tuesday night announced that it had taken Baloch into its custody on charges of ‘espionage’ and ‘leak of sensitive security information to foreign intelligence agencies’.
Baloch’s 13-page, self-written confessional statement emerged hours after late-night tweets by Inter-Services Public Relation chief Maj Gen Asif Ghafoor about Uzair Baloch’s custody which was confirmed by the Rangers’ senior special public prosecutor Sajid Mahboob Sheikh.
“It was recorded before the judicial magistrate south in April 2016 under Section 64 of the CrPC [Criminal Procedure Code],” said Mr Sheikh, confirming the authenticity of Baloch’s statement as well as the JIT’s report, copies of which are available with Dawn.
Lyari ‘gangster’ says he met Iranian spies in Chabahar
In April last year, the joint investigation team (JIT) set up by the Sindh government completed its task and sent its report to the home department, recommending the trial of the banned Peoples Amn Committee’s chief by a military court.
The JIT report levelled the same allegation against Baloch as had been confessed by him before the court.
“Uzair Baloch was involved in espionage activities by providing secret information regarding army installations and officials to foreign agents [Iranian intelligence officers] which is a violation of the Official Secret Act 1923,” said the JIT in its report signed by the representatives of the Sindh Police, Rangers and intelligence agencies. On April 29, 2016, the report was sent to the Sindh home department for “perusal and necessary action”.
The report quoted the Lyari gangster as telling the JIT that he fled to Iran after the Rangers launched an operation in Karachi in September 2013.
“He was living with his friend, Malik Baloch, in Chabahar, where he met Haji Nasir who held dual nationality,” it said, adding that Haji Nasir offered Baloch to shift him to Tehran permanently where he would be provided a residence with no cost as he [Nasir] had “good relations with Iranian intelligence officers and he can arrange his meeting with them”.
As Uzair Baloch gave his consent to the offer, the JIT report said, his meeting was arranged with an Iranian intelligence official who tasked him to “provide certain information about [Pakistani] armed forces officials besides general security environment of the city [Karachi]”.
Uzair Baloch told the JIT that of his 14 lieutenants six at that time were still living in Chabahar.
The JIT members had “strongly recommended” to the government to try Uzair Baloch under the Pakistan Army Act for his suspected involvement in “espionage”.
Published in Dawn, April 13th, 2017
Comments (23) Closed
Hope there is more to come since he could not have acted alone.
Let's disclose the names of people who were giving Uzair sensitive information about Pakistan.
Watch out intentions of your enemies and watch your friends even closely.
who gave him secret information?
Good catch. Our Iranian brothers have a little explaining to do now. Nothing personal though but business is business. Sending spies to Pakistan doesn't end too well just ask the Indians.
He may have given information general in nature but it is still a heinous crime
Iran!!!! So called brotherly neighbor
All neighbouring Agencies active in Pakistan
What about the politicians who were supporting him? they should also be tried
Uzair admitted to espionage in front of a Military Court.
@M. Emad Not in a military court but in front of judicial magistrate of a civil court
You missing the point guys. It took whole one year!!
Bravo Nawaz Sharif for not having a Foreign Minister because you want to have all the power! Pakistan had a poor foreign policy resulting in our 3 out of 4 neighbors India Afghanistan and Iran turning against Pakistan!
Another deal in making. Dr Asim, Sharjeel Mamon, AsifZardari and now Uzair. 4, 2,11 years later all of them were given chits of cleanliness and same would be this case. Has anyone ever tried to even know who the other side of these deal making is?
Spying isn't a serious crime.
uzair had made life in karachi totally mesriable . taken money from every one . if some was making any refusal to pay, police was attending the rest . mobiles were following him . why all this was done under whose instructions . the prov govt was fully behind him . the home minister,ch minister , ig etc should be taken to task. it is a joke how lightly he is being handled.
Iran is not as clean as one would hope for.
Why Iran spies on Pakistan, because Pakistan's close links with Saudi Arabia, which is straining Iran-Pakistan relationship.
The Pakistan and Iranian intelligence heads should meet to sort things out.
Wonder that Iran is not a superpower but still playing games across the borders in dozens of Muslim countries, the latest victim is Pakistan! Plenty of people still think Pakistan and Iran are brothers.
I m sure that Iran(government) is not involved in bad activities in Pakistan. The issues can be solved if the military & govt heads of both the countries sit together, talk about their reservations, ponder over the situation and find the answers.
Well, based on these, will Mr. Mirza be grilled too? As he officially admits and proud of his affiliation with Uzair
Get the culprits whoever they may be. Politicians, government officials, ministers even the prime minister or military personnel. Everyone one must be brought to book. But corruption is rampant in our country and not much will be done. God help Pakistan.