RAWALPINDI: Controversial figure Imtiaz Ali Khokhar, popularly known as Taji Khokhar, passed away in Rawalpindi after a prolonged illness.
His nephew Bilal Khokhar confirmed his death on social media. His funeral prayers were offered on his heavily guarded house Dera Taji Khokhar on Koral Chowk in which hundreds of people including politicians, social workers and business personalities participated.
The deceased was the younger brother of Punjab Assembly’s former deputy speaker Haji Nawaz Khokhar, and paternal uncle of Pakistan Peoples Party (PPP) Senator Mustafa Nawaz Khokhar who is the spokesperson to Bilawal Bhutto Zardari.
Taji Khokhar was charged with having connections with land grabbers and assisting anti-social elements. Rawalpindi police had included his name in the Fourth Schedule list of terrorists last year along with his son Farrukh Khokar.
He had been suffering from kidney disease for the past few years and underwent a kidney transplant last week. He was considered an influential figure in Rawalpindi and Islamabad due to his political influence and close ties with prominent personalities.
Khokhar was also the founder of the Triple Three ‘333’ group which was shut down by the Rawalpindi Police last year. The group was known for its extravagant lifestyle flaunting weapons, gold chains and cars and used to intimidate people.
Taji gained infamy due to his inordinate wealth as his own protocol consisted of a cavalcade of black SUVs all bearing 333 registration numbers. He also had a private zoo at his residence.
Taji Khokhar had also served sentences of several months in jail on charges of murder and allegedly had links with encroachment mafia and assisting terrorists.
