KARACHI: A close associate of a suspect wanted in dozens of targeted killing and extortion cases was arrested by the counter-terrorism wing of the Crime Investigation Department (CID) during a raid in the early hours of Sunday.

According to a handout by the CID, police wanted to arrest Mehfoozullah alias Bhalu, notorious for extortion, and mounted an operation in the Kati Pahari area for the purpose. However, during the operation, the police encountered heavy firing from top of the cliff.

Mehfoozullah managed to flee taking advantage of the difficult terrain, but his alleged accomplice, Abdul Kabir, was arrested.

Police recovered five AK-47 assault rifles, one G3 rifle, one 9mm pistol, one 30-bore pistol, two repeater guns, a network of closed-circuit television cameras and monitoring system, walkie-talkie sets, bullet-proof vests and hundreds of rounds from the hideout of Mehfoozullah.

Superintendent of Police Raja Umar Khattab said the suspects had installed a network of CCTV cameras on all routes leading to the hideout. “We have razed his hideout to the ground and seized all articles found there,” he said.

Later, Abdul Kabir told police that the Bhalu group comprising 15 to 20 men had the support of a local political leader.