KARACHI, Feb 10: The over 17-month long suspension of a former chief of the defunct Lyari Task Force (LTF) has come to an end as the Sindh police chief has made him the head of a specialised unit of the Karachi police.

SP Mohammad Aslam Khan, commonly known as Chaudhry Aslam, the former LTF chief, was suspended with other members of his team and jailed in August 2006 for killing a labourer, Rasool Bux Brohi, in a police-staged encounter. He was bailed out by the Sindh High Court on Dec 24.

A special unit — Specialist Crime Unit (SCU) — was created in the Karachi police through a notification issued on Saturday by the office of the Sindh provincial police officer (PPO) and SP Khan was made its head as his suspension was already ended by the PPO. He joined the new unit on Sunday.

“The SCU has been formed to investigate high-profile cases relating to terrorism, robberies and any other serious matters,” Capital City Police Officer Niaz Ahmed Siddiqui told Dawn. “According to its charter, the unit may also be assigned investigations of those cases which remain unsolved,” he added.

He said the SCU would work directly under him because the whole city fell in the jurisdiction of the new unit.

However, sources in the police department said that though the new unit was authorised to take action anywhere in the city, it was formed and SP Khan was given the new assignment keeping in view his expertise in busting criminal gangs in Lyari.

The sources said that during his tenure as LTF chief, he had controlled lawlessness in Lyari but after his suspension and subsequent imprisonment, the situation became volatile in that locality.

They did not rule out political pressure behind the creation of the new unit and posting of SP Khan as its head.

The sources said that a top authority of the province was taking great interest in the early release of the jailed officials of the defunct LTF. The authority was also behind the reinstatement of SP Khan, DSP Irfan Bahadur and other officials facing trial in the Brohi murder case.

They disclosed that the first assignment given to SP Khan’s unit was to arrest notorious criminals Rehman Dakait and Ghaffar Zikri, responsible for the Lyari gang war.

It may be noted that the LTF had earlier arrested Rehman Dakait, but he escaped after the suspension and arrest of SP Khan and his subordinates. But, the arrest and escape of Dakait was never acknowledged officially.

Meanwhile, acting on the assignment, SP Khan’s unit sped up their efforts in Lyari and on Sunday held two criminals belonging to Ghaffar Zikri’s group.

Police arrested Jamal and Imran on Sunday night after an encounter in the Chakiwara area. A stolen car, a Kalashnikov and two TT pistols were seized from them.

Opinion

Accessing the RSF

Accessing the RSF

RSF can help catalyse private sector inves­tment encouraging investment flows, build upon institutional partnerships with MDBs, other financial institutions.

Editorial

Madressah oversight
Updated 19 Dec, 2024

Madressah oversight

Bill should be reconsidered and Directorate General of Religious Education, formed to oversee seminaries, should not be rolled back.
Kurram’s misery
Updated 19 Dec, 2024

Kurram’s misery

The state must recognise that allowing such hardship to continue undermines its basic duty to protect citizens’ well-being.
Hiking gas rates
19 Dec, 2024

Hiking gas rates

IMPLEMENTATION of a new Ogra recommendation to increase the gas prices by an average 8.7pc or Rs142.45 per mmBtu in...
Geopolitical games
Updated 18 Dec, 2024

Geopolitical games

While Assad may be gone — and not many are mourning the end of his brutal rule — Syria’s future does not look promising.
Polio’s toll
18 Dec, 2024

Polio’s toll

MONDAY’s attacks on polio workers in Karak and Bannu that martyred Constable Irfanullah and wounded two ...
Development expenditure
18 Dec, 2024

Development expenditure

PAKISTAN’S infrastructure development woes are wide and deep. The country must annually spend at least 10pc of its...