KARACHI: Interpol has issued a red notice for a fugitive Lyari gangster, Wasiullah Lakho, who is reportedly hiding abroad and wanted by Karachi police, South Deputy Inspector General (DIG) Syed Asad Raza told Dawn on Wednesday.

A red notice is a request to law enforcement agencies by Interpol to locate and provisionally arrest a person pending extradition, surrender, or similar legal action.

DIG Raza said the Interpol secretariat in Lyon, France had issued the notice against Lakho on the request of Pakistani authorities.

According to the notice, seen by Dawn, Lakho had been involved in murders, extortion and assault on police in Karachi.

It said Lakho was wanted for prosecution in more than 60 cases of “heinous nature”. Among them, Interpol issued a red notice for his arrest in a 2014 case registered at Karachi’s Kalri police station under Sections 353 (assault or criminal force to deter public servant from discharge of their duty), 324 (attempt to murder) and 34 (acts done by several persons in furtherance of a common intention) of the Pakistan Penal Code.

Elaborating on the case, the notice said a police party had reached Karachi’s Daryabad area upon receiving information that Lakho was present there along with his accomplices, who were associated with Lyari gang war, with the intention to commit a “heinous crime”.

Police cordoned off the area after reaching the site, the notice said, adding that Lakho and his accomplices opened fire on law enforcers with the intention to kill upon seeing them.

“Police also started firing in self-defence. Resultantly, one accused person, Abdul Jabbar, fell down … due to a bullet injury while other accused persons succeeded in escaping,” it read.

The notice said police arrested the injured suspect and found a TT pistol and ammunition in his possession.

It said that during interrogation, arrested suspect Abdul Jabbar named one of the suspects who had fled as Wasiullah Lakho.

Lakho “has fled to avoid arrest. Competent court of law has declared him a proclaimed offender and issued a perpetual warrant of arrest for him. The accused is wanted for prosecution”, the notice read.