CM’S aide quits over role in smuggling case

ISLAMABAD: Sindh’s Chief Minister Adviser on Forest and Wildlife, Babal Khan Bhayo, embroiled in an arms smuggling case, has resigned from his cabinet position, and called for a transparent inquiry into the case of smuggling of heavy weapons to dacoits in Katcha area.

Thesindhpolicethwartedanattempttosmuggle arms to these dacoits and apprehended seven individuals, including three policemen allegedly involved in the offense, in Shikarpur on Friday.

A police spokesperson disclosed that thousands of bullets and two Kalashnikovs were seized from the arrested individuals during the operation.

He emphasised that the arms consignment was being transported from Balochistan to

Shikarpur in a police vehicle assigned to the security of Bhayo. It was claimed that the smuggled weapons were intended for delivery to the Katcha area dacoits.

Bhayo announced his resignation from the post to facilitate a transparent inquiry. In a statement, he urged the Sindh government to conduct an impartial investigation and make its findings public.

Meanwhile, in Jacobabad, the Moladad police, with Inspector Ishtiaq Ahmed as the complainant, have filed a case against four arms smugglers, one assistant sub-inspector (ASI) of police, and two other policemen under the Anti-terrorism Act.

The named suspects in the case include Ikhtiar Ahmed Lashari, Nabeel Ahmed Bhayo, Taufiq Ahmed Gujjar, and Zakir Hussain Bhayo.

Police ASI Imtiaz Ahmed Bhayo and Constables Sanaullah Manganhar and Baqaullah Unnar have also been implicated in the case for allegedly escorting the smugglers’ vehicle.

Preliminary investigations indicate that the police vehicle and officials involved hail from Shikarpur district. “Two rifles, 20 various types of magazines, and 2,350 rounds were recovered from the double cabin vehicle,” as stated in the first information report.

In an unrelated development, the Muttahida Qaumi Movement-pakistan (MQM-P) issued a robust response to a recent statement made by Mayor Karachi, Murtaza Wahab.

The Sindh Assembly Members of MQM-P have strongly criticised Wahab’s recent statement, labelling it as baseless, absurd, and riddled with unfounded accusations and warned Pakistan Poeples Party (PPP) to avoid such political tactics.

Following the media reports showcased instances of weapons being smuggled in vehicles belonging to PPP ministers, the assembly members highlighted that the arrogance, incompetence, corruption, and alleged support for criminal elements within the leadership of the PPP has been exposed to public.