ATC gives 90 days remand of Uzair Baloch to Rangers
Leader of the Layari gang war handed over to Pakistan Rangers on 90 days remand.
DUNYA NEWS REPORT (Humaira Sajid)
KARACHI – Uzair Baloch, a notorious leader of the Layari gang war has been handed over to Pakistan Rangers on 90 days remand over alleged crimes such as target killings, extortion, kidnapping and terrorism.
Rangers have requested and sent a letter to Sindh Home Ministry seeking to form a Joint Investigation Team (JIT) for the interrogation of the accused Layari gang war key individual, Uzair Baloch.
Baloch, a key character of gang land violence has head money of Rs5 million and faces over 50 cases on different counts in local courts. Out of 55 cases 42 are pending in Anti Terrorism Court Karachi while he is wanted in 13 more cases in session courts. The sources told that the cases would be referred to a military court once a Joint Investigation Team (JIT) completes its task of interrogating the suspect.
Pakistan Rangers arrested the key culprit of Layari Gang War, Uzair Jan Baloch in a targeted operation from the outskirts of Karachi on Saturday. A source, however, said that the gangster had been brought to Pakistan a few months back but his arrests had been kept undisclosed as investigators were working on clues and information provided by him during his interrogation.
According to sources, Sindh Chief Minister Qaim Ali Shah and Governor Sindh Ishrat Ebad were informed beforehand about the arrest of Uzair Baloch, chief of the banned Peoples Aman Committee (PAC).
Qaim Ali Shah said at the time: “He [Uzair Baloch] was caught in Dubai, then our police team went there to gain his custody but it could not materialize for unknown reasons. Now I don’t know if he is still in custody in Dubai or has been released.” Thus it remains unclear when and how Baloch was extradited to Pakistan.
The accused is popularly known for his loyalty and relations with the Pakistan Peoples Party leaders and senior members in the Sindh cabinet, e.g. former home minister Dr Zulfiqar Mirza. Mirza said he still considers Layari gangster Uzair Baloch as his brother and was happy to see him alive. While adding that he did not form the Layari Aman Committee instead it was present when he took charge as the home minister.
“If I had formed the Aman Committee then I would have the courage to accept it,” he asserted,
“it is good that Uzair Baloch is presented alive and did not meet the fate like of Baba Ladla who was killed in a police encounter.” He said Uzair would now give his statements and it would be helpful in bringing back several people who had escaped abroad. Mirza also appreciated the Interior Minister Chaudhry Nisar, saying he is loyal to the country and is doing a good job but the Zardari league was creating hindrances in his way.
However, the incumbent and former leaders of the Pakistan People’s Party gave contradicting statements regarding the PPP’s association with Uzair Baloch. Sindh Senior Education and Parliamentary Affairs Minister Nisar Ahmed Khuhro said the party had nothing to do with the arrested gangster. Khuhro denied having knowledge of any person named Uzair Baloch who is affiliated with the PPP and blamed Interior Minister Chaudhry Nisar for wrongfully accusing PPP every time.
“I do not know who is Uzair Baloch and PPP has nothing to worry about over the arrest of Uzair Baloch,” he said.
It is the responsibility of the law enforcing authorities to arrest any person who is wanted in several cases.
Baloch was previously arrested in Dubai by the Interpol in December 2014, while he was crossing into the United Arab Emirates from Oman by road, the Pakistani consulate in Dubai had confirmed at the time. At the same time, a four-member special police team was designed and authorized from Pakistan for the arrest of Uzair Baloch from UAE authorities, however they returned empty-handed in March 2015 after staying there for a month.
Uzair Baloch took over as leader of Peoples Aman Committee in Aug 2009 when the notorious Abdul Rahman Baloch alias Rahman Dakait was killed in an encounter more than a year after the PPP government came to power. The (PAC) committee presented as community group by its leaders is blamed for its criminal activities which include killings, extortion and drugs business both by police and rival parties of the PPP.
