Lyari gang war leader Uzair Baloch indicted in kidnap-murder case

KARACHI (92 News) – An anti-terrorism court (ATC) in Karachi on Tuesday indicted Lyari gang war leader Uzair Baloch in a case related to the kidnapping for ransom and murder of a trader. Hearing the case at Central Jail, Karachi, the ATC judge framed charges against the accused who denied having any role in the abduction and murder of Abdul Samad and opted to contest the charges. Jail authorities produced him in courtroom with his head covered and both hands cuffed amid tight security. The court issued notices to the investigation officer and witnesses to turn up at next hearing for deposition. According to the charge-sheet, the trader was taken captive by Uzair and his accomplices who demanded Rs1 million as protection money for his safe release. They murdered the abductee despite payment of Rs70,000 ransom. Uzair Baloch’s brother Zubair Baloch has also been behind bars in the case. On Monday, the Sindh government uploaded three joint investigation team (JIT) reports – Uzair Baloch, Nisar Morai and Baldia tragedy – on the website of the Home Department. The server downed soon after the reports were uploaded. However, it restored after sometimes. Meanwhile, 92 News has obtained the JIT report of the Baldia tragedy. The factory was set on fire for not giving the extortion amounting to Rs200 million. About 259 people were burnt alive in the tragedy. According to the report, the factory was set ablaze on the orders of MQM’s Hammad Siddiqui, Rehman Bhola and Zubair Chiriya were involved in the tragedy. The fire was planned incident of terrorism. The report says the case was dealt in a non-professional manner. The case was tried in a way to benefit the accused. A 1,000-yard bungalow was purchased in Hyderabad from the money obtained from the tragedy. The report says an attempt was made to influence the case internally and externally during the investigations. The FIR was presented in the matter as if it was common murder incident. The JIT has recommended registration of the case afresh and involve Rehman Bhola, Hammad Siddiqui and Zubair Chiriya in the case. According to the Uzair Baloch JIT report, Uzair Baloch had admitted to killing 198 people on the basis of language. Eleven people belonging to an opponent political party were murdered for not giving extortion. Uzair Baloch admitted that he had killed Arshad Pappu to take the revenge of the murder of his father. Inspector Yousaf Baloch had provided the police mobile to kidnap Arshad Pappu. According to the report, the bodies of Arshad Pappu and his two friends were burnt after the murder and their remains were thrown in a gutter. In2012, Uzair Baloch had ordered his gangsters to offer resistance against police during the Layari operation. The report also disclosed the links between the Uzair Baloch gang war group and the MQM. Uzair Baloch has also admitted to having attacked the PPP councilors and police stations. He also admitted that he had ordered the murder of PPP leader Malik Muhammad Khan on November 6, 2012.