Court to indict accused Uzair Baloch in eight more criminal cases

KARACHI: An anti-terrorism court in Karachi has resumed hearing eight criminal cases against Lyari gangster Uzair Baloch.

According to details, the ATC judge provided copies of charge-sheets filed in these cases to the accused of his likely indictment at the next hearing. The cases pertaining to the attack, murder and kidnapping of police officials were registered at Chakiwara and Kalakot police stations.

The Lyari gangster was presented in court at Central Jail, Karachi amid tight security with his head covered and both hands cuffed. Rangers personnel were deployed in and outside the court to prevent any untoward incident.

Earlier, the anti-terrorism court had indicted the accused Baloch in a case related to the kidnapping and murder of a trader.

The 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.

The court issued notices to the investigation officer and witnesses to turn up at the next hearing for deposition. According to jail officials, 54 criminal cases, including the Arshad Papu murder case, are pending against the accused.

On July 7, An anti-terrorism court had indicted notorious Lyari gang war leader Uzair Baloch for kidnapping and murdering a trader.

Baloch was brought to the court handcuffed under strict security with his face covered with a mask.

The presiding judge said that Baloch had been accused of kidnapping a trader named Abdul Samad and demanding a ransom of one million rupees from his family. The trader was murdered even after his family paid Rs70,000 to Baloch, the judge said while reading out the charges.

The gangster pleaded not guilty to the charges for his alleged role in the murder and kidnapping. The court issued notices to the investigating officer and the witnesses in the case to appear at the next hearing.

Baloch was arrested by the Rangers on 30th January 2016 and was handed over to law enforcement agencies in April this year to raise various criminals charges against him.

He has been accused of committing 198 murders, illegally purchasing weapons, attacking police stations, embezzling funds, extorting money and espionage.