KARACHI: The Pakistan Rangers, Sindh, on Monday claimed to have arrested some 20 suspects, including two belonging to Al Qaeda in the Indian Subcontinent (AQIS), in a first such action after the provincial government extended their special policing powers for another 90 days following week-long hiccups and apparent unwillingness.

The arrests were made in raids carried out in different parts of the metropolis, according to a spokesperson for the paramilitary force.

The Rangers conducted targeted raids in different areas and detained eight suspects allegedly involved in targeted killings, terrorism, extortion, robberies, graffiti, as well as working as ‘facilitators’ in different crimes.

The spokesperson said that two suspects — Saeed-ul-Hasan alias China and Syed Umer Aijaz alias Maaz alias Masa’ab — were arrested from Jackson and Civil Lines and were associated with the banned AQIS.

He said that the two suspects were involved in cracker attacks on kiosks manned by police and Rangers personnel in Nazimabad and Gulshan-i-Iqbal areas. They also “incited” people for violence, he claimed.

Separately, the paramilitary force arrested suspect Mohammed Saleem from Hyderi for his alleged involvement in several crimes, including extortion and wall chalking. He was affiliated with the Muttahida Qaumi Movement-London, the Rangers spokesperson said.

Raids were also conducted in Pak Colony and Nazimabad areas from where suspects Furqan alias Shooter and Abu Bakr were picked up. They were involved in targeted killings and extortion cases.

Two more suspects — Mohammed Ibrahim alias Hyderi and Sikander — were apprehended from Nazimabad. They were said to be involved in motorcycle and mobile phone snatching and other robberies.

A suspected gangster was also arrested in the Jackson area. The Rangers said Asif Pathan was linked to the Lyari gang warfare and was allegedly involved in several criminal cases.

The Rangers also claimed to have seized illegal arms and ammunition and stolen goods from the custody of the held suspects.

“The held suspects were being handed over to the police for further legal action,” the spokesperson said.

Separately, the paramilitary force conducted a targeted raid in Gulshan-i-Iqbal and apprehended 12 suspected robbers.

They were identified as Shahzeb alias Shoni, Sajjad alias Munna, Adam Khan, Abdul Sattar, Baber Ali, M. Asif, Nazeer Ahmed, Waqas Ali, Shahbaz, Danish, Arslan and Ghulam Murtaza.

“They were involved in robberies in different areas of the metropolis. They snatched motorcycles, mobile phones and cash on busy thoroughfares in an organised manner,” said the Rangers’ official.

The spokesperson claimed that suspect Murtaza was the ringleader of the gang and was affiliated with the banned Jeay Sindh Muttahida Mahaz. He was also involved in firing, arson acts, forcible closure of shops and other crimes, the spokesperson added.

Published in Dawn, April 25th, 2017