KHUZDAR: In a significant crackdown, Khuzdar Police and the Crime Investigation Agency (CIA) have successfully apprehended two dangerous gangs responsible for a series of armed robberies on the Quetta-Karachi National Highway. The joint operation led to the arrest of nine suspects and the recovery of 26 looted mobile phones, firearms, ammunition, and the vehicles used in the crimes.
The action was initiated after unidentified assailants recently blocked the highway near Zawa, looting passengers on several buses and private vehicles. Taking immediate notice, SSP Khuzdar Shehzada Umar Abbas Babar directed a special team to track down the culprits. Acting on a confidential tip, police and CIA personnel raided an area in Pheeshk Katano, Baghbana Tehsil, arresting five individuals. A subsequent raid, based on interrogations, led to the capture of four more accomplices.
Authorities recovered a significant cache of weapons, including Kalashnikovs, rifles, and pistols, along with the mobile phones stolen from passengers. SDPO Muhammad Rafiq Mengal and CIA in-charge Noor Ahmed Zehri confirmed the suspects have been presented in court and remanded for further investigation, expecting more revelations and potential arrests. The gangs are also linked to robberies on the Ferozabad-Shahdadkot-Khuzdar Highway and were known to use firearms to intimidate victims.
Police emphasized a zero-tolerance policy towards criminals in Khuzdar, stating the entire district is under strict surveillance. The arrests are anticipated to greatly enhance security for travelers. In recognition of their efforts, SSP Babar announced that the officers involved in the successful operation will be awarded certificates.
Meanwhile there are reports circulating on social media falsely claiming that Balochistan Chief Minister Sarfraz Bugti travelled to Dubai to seek a meeting with President Asif Ali Zardari in an effort to “save his position.” As per these posts, the President allegedly refused to meet the Chief Minister, and several Pakistan Peoples Party (PPP) MPAs conveyed grievances against him.
However, sources close to the situation have categorically rejected these claims. In this regard, while speaking to Burraq Baloch, reliable sources confirmed that the reports are entirely fabricated and that no meeting planned or unplanned took place between Chief Minister Sarfraz Bugti and President Asif Ali Zardari regarding any political matter.
