News Analysis |
Infamous Lyari gang war leader Uzair Baloch on Monday made startling revelations in his confessional statement before a judicial magistrate in which he confessed killing security personnel and civilians. According to Baloch, he secured 14 sugar mills by force on the directives of senior leaders of PPP. Baloch also said that the bounty on his head was struck off on the orders of Asif Ali Zardari and Faryal Talpur.
Baloch also accepted the killing of Security personnel in order to gain political benefit for his sponsors. “The assassination of two Rangers personnel in 2013, namely Aijaz and Munir, were carried out on my directives in a bid to trap the opponents in the murder allegation,” the gang leader asserted.
The militancy wracked nation needs a steadfast and firm resolve against both militants and their supporters in order to be finally free of the scourge of terrorism
Later, the bodies were desecrated to enrage the authorities against the opponents, besides killing a relative, Khaliq –, of the former Pakistan Peoples’ Party (PPP) union councilor, he informed the magistrate. He said his gang operatives – in numerous gun battles with police under command of SSP Chaudhry Aslam – killed as many as six cops including civilians.
Read more: Uzair Baloch: better a dead man or living threat to PPP?
He also confessed to receiving enormous extortion from various public departments and business community members. “Fishery department was prominent in the list,” Baloch claimed. Over a number of attacks on police quarters, the notorious Peoples’ Aman Committee (PAC) chief said assaults on police personnel were carried out in various localities of old city area including Baghdadi, Chakiwara, and Kalari.
Uzair Baloch’s confession and the recent alleged IB report showcasing the ties between sitting parliamentarians and terrorist groups have raised questions about the desire of the civilian government to tackle militancy
He said he established friendly links with Capital City Police Officer (CCPO) Karachi Waseem Ahmed, Senior Superintendent of Police (SSP) Farooq Awan and his brother Shahadat Awan. “I accomplished several tasks on their directives, besides extending my support to Awan brother in land grabbing,” Baloch further claimed. Eleven acres of land in Sammo Goth and Asif Mithal’s farmhouse are among these lands.
The disclosure of Baloch has sent shockwaves as well as validated many assumptions about the law and order situation in Karachi. The economic capital of Pakistan was held in a reign of terror involving target killings and extortion from 2008 onwards. Although most of the blame was put on the PPP’s main local rival the MQM, there were several instances when the militant wings of several democratic parties were unmasked.
Read more: Terror’s political links: Alleged Intelligence Bureau report unleashes a new storm
Although most of the blame was put on the PPP’s main local rival the MQM, there were several instances when the militant wings of several democratic parties were unmasked
The Karachi based parties of the PPP, MQM, ANP, Jamaat-e-Islami and Sunni Tehreek were found guilty of being involved in extortion by the Supreme Court. The journey does not end here, several political parties were found to be collaborating with hostile foreign intelligence against their own country.
Uzair on record has divulged information in which he told of his ties with Indian and Iranian intelligence agencies to which he passed on secrets about the locations of security installations. The MQM was found out to be hand in glove with the Indian agency R&AW by the BBC. Uzair Baloch’s confession and the recent alleged IB report showcasing the ties between sitting parliamentarians and terrorist groups have raised questions about the desire of the civilian government to tackle militancy.
Read more: Contempt for the constitution in Federal and Sindh
Indeed, militant wings of political parties have been responsible for some of the worst terrorist attacks in Pakistan’s history. The militancy wracked nation needs a steadfast and firm resolve against both militants and their supporters in order to be finally free of the scourge of terrorism.