SUKKUR, Jan 16: Ghotki police on Friday conducted several raids in Pano Aqil, Ghotki and Lal Khan Almani village to arrest Khuda Bux Almani, who is said to be an uncle of Shaista Almani and played a key role in the holding of a Jirga on the issue of Shaista's marriage with Balkhsher Mahar.

He is also said to have forced the chief of the Almani tribe to settle the dispute with Mahars through a Jirga.

The raids were conducted on the information that two sisters of Shaista Almani, Suriya and Sanam, and her mother Noor Jehan, were missing from their village, Lal Khan Almani, and it was said that Khuda Bux Almani was allegedly involved in their kidnapping, Town Police Officer of Mirpur Mathelo told newsmen in Ghotki on Friday.

When contacted by his mobile phone, Khuda Bux Almani said several raids had been conducted in the last two days by the police. "But I was not available at those places. At present I am residing in Sukkur."

Khuda Bux Almani said the three women were living with Alam Jatoi, brother-in-law of Shaista Almani, and were not in his possession. He added that a heavy police force had been deployed at the house of Alam Jatoi in Pano Aqil for the protection of these women.