KARACHI: Investigators probing the murder of former police inspector Javed Baloch are looking into reports that he was considering becoming an “approver” against Lyari gangster Uzair Baloch in a 2013 case pertaining to the killing of rival Arshad Pappu, his brother and an aide.

On Dec 31, former Chakiwara SHO Baloch and his relative Muhammad Mussadiq were gunned down in Soldier Bazaar when they were returning from an antiterrorism court in the judicial complex inside Karachi central prison on a motorbike.

Following the murder, Maritime Affairs Minister and Sindh chief of the Pakistan Tehreek-i-Insaf Ali Zaidi had tweeted: “Javed Baloch, ex SHO & witness in the Uzair Baloch case was shot dead in Karachi on his way back after testifying in court. Javed Baloch is also mentioned in Uzair Baloch’s JIT report. That is why no one comes forward to testify as witness in these alarming cases!”

However, the minister’s tweet did not mention that the slain SHO himself was an accused in the killing of Arshad Pappu and he along with Uzair Baloch had been indicted for the triple murder.

Arshad Pappu’s son, Uzair’s commanders under suspicion

Police launched an investigation to ascertain the possible motive and identity of suspects.

Revenge killing?

Three police officers familiar with the investigations of the case told Dawn on Sunday that they were focusing on two possible aspects.

First, they suspected that remnants of Lyari gang warfare associated with Arshad Pappu gang might have targeted the ex-SHO to avenge the killing. They said the gang was being led by Pappu’s son, Bilal.

They said that several reports suggested that the slain official was allegedly trying to become an ‘approver’ against Uzair Baloch in the Arshad Pappu murder case.

“The area where he was killed and the way the killing was carried out and his dubious role as a police officer in Lyari give rise to suspicions that his murder is linked with his past role in Lyari,” said an officer.

Another officer said that the victim’s brother, who is the complainant of the murder case, met with investigators on Saturday but he did not share anything meaningful.

He said that he just requested to conduct the investigation on ‘merit’ and did not nominate anyone in the case.

Meanwhile, social activists in Lyari said that slain Baloch was a neighbour of Uzair in Singulane, an area of Lyari. His father was associated with the Pakistan Peoples Party in the area.

The activists revealed that former Baghdadi SHO Yusuf Baloch, also a co-accused in the Pappu murder case, was supposed to join Javed Baloch but he was some minutes late.

Yusuf is said to be a relative of Amin Buledi, one of the incarcerated commanders of Uzair Baloch-led gang.

Killing sparks fear of gang war

The residents said that another dismissed head constable, Baqar, also feared for his life. He was also said to be very close to Uzair Baloch as he dealt ‘police matters’ for him.

A resident revealed that Baqar has now become a ‘famous builder’ in Lyari.

The social activists of Lyari said they apprehended that gang war might erupt again in the area.

They said the area where the former inspector and his cousin were killed was near to Tharo Lane of Garden, where Jamil Changa, a gangster linked with Uzair who now lives abroad, ran a gang.

Javed Baloch was arrested by Rangers in 2013. According to court papers, Arshad Pappu, his brother, a confidant and 10-year-old son had gone to attend the party of a friend in DHA on March 16, 2013. The boy came home around midnight and informed his mother that around 20 men in two vehicles came to the flat in the DHA and took away his father and two others.

The captives were killed after being subjected to torture and the bodies of the alleged gangster and his brother were thrown into manholes in Kalakot after being mutilated, according to the prosecution. The Supreme Court had taken notice of the brutal killings.

Arshad Pappu was booked in around 60 cases but he was never convicted in any case since most of the key witnesses either did not turn up to testify against him or turned hostile before the courts.

He was released in 2012 from a prison in Balochistan following his acquittal in what appeared to be the last case against him pertaining to the murder of Faiz Mohammed alias Mama Faizu, a transporter and father of Uzair Baloch.

Published in Dawn, January 3rd, 2022