Uzair Baloch indicted in Arshad Pappu murder case

KARACHI: An anti-terrorism court on Wednesday indicted Lyari gang leader Uzair Baloch and others accused in the murder of notorious gangster Arshad Pappu.

The ATC judge read out an amended charge sheet to Uzair Baloch, Shahjahan Baloch, former SHO Chand Niazi, Yousuf and others accused. The suspects denied the charges and agreed to contest them.

The court issued notices to the investigation officer and witnesses to appear in court to record their statements. The judge summoned a reply from the prosecutor on the implementation of the Jail Manual and allowing Baloch to meet his family.

The Lyari gang leader demanded that the judge who recorded his confessional statement appear before the court and with an affidavit and testify. He had earlier denied issuing a confessional statement.

Baloch told the judge that he is not under jail custody and is being kept at the Mitharam Hostel detention facility by Rangers and is only brought for trial proceedings by jail police.

The hearing of the case was adjourned until September 14. The case is being heard at the ATC in the Judicial Complex at Karachi Central Jail.

A case was registered against Baloch at the Kalakot police station for murdering Arshad Pappu, his brother Yasir Arafat and another associate in 2013. He has been accused of murdering a total of 198 people and a wide range of criminal activities.

Baloch was arrested by the Rangers on January 30, 2016. He was taken into custody was handed over to the Pakistan Army in 2017 over espionage charges and leaking information to foreign intelligence agencies.