The persons involved in the shootout in Defence on Sunday night that resulted in the death of six men, including Nawab Akbar Bugti’s grandson Taalay Bugti, allegedly belong to influential business families of Karachi and are using their influence to pressurise the police for saving the suspects from arrest, it has been learnt.
Reliable sources in the Police Department told Pakistan Today that the two alleged accused are close relatives of Karach-based businessmen and also have criminal records.
The absconders are said to be the prime suspects involved in the shootout at a party in the Defence Housing Authority and the police are conducting raids in search of them.
“Both persons are blood relatives of Karachi-based business icons and have been involved in different criminal activities in the Defence area in the past,” said the sources.
On the pressure exerted by a government personality, the city police have not included the names of both the suspects in the FIR of the case; whereas, a heavy bribe has also been given to the police officials for excluding their names on purpose.
“Both the [suspects] have close links with Arif Rajar as they came together in the party,” said eyewitnesses, during investigation adding that both the groups used sub-machine guns (SMGs), Kalashnikovs and .222 rifles.
The police had arrested 11 men after the incident but released them after interrogation. The police also collected shells of spent bullets of SMG, Kalashnikovs, .222 rifles and handguns while only a single 9mm pistol was recovered from the spot, sources said.
Police lodged FIR No 192/2011 against members from both the sides, nominating Arif Rajar and his companions, deceased Dr M Iqbal, Kamran Gul alias Noon, Sameer Baloch, Waseem, Mushtaq, DJ Savvy and Ghiyas. From the other side, the names of Taalay Bugti, Zamraan, Zahid Butt, Umair Yusuf, Rehan, Ghaffar, Bilawal and six others were nominated in the case.
A security guard of a bungalow near the crime spot told Pakistan Today on condition of anonymity that the particular house, where the shootout took place, was booked for ‘dance parties’ every weekend. “I have frequently seen high-profile government officials, police officers, actors and actresses from the film and television industry entering this house on weekends.”
He added that incidents of aerial firing on weekends were a normal thing but on the day of the incident, he heard intense firing and raced to the spot to see dead bodies lying in pools of blood. “The participants of the party were trying to escape from the spot and no one was interested in saving the injured.”
A waiter at the party, on condition of anonymity, told the reporter that the dispute between the groups erupted over some issue concerned with a female participant. After a hot discussion, the Arif Rajar group forced the Bugti group out of the house.
“Initially they pushed each other but near the entrance gate of the house, both groups sprayed each other with bullets.”
Police sources said the house was frequently used for dance programmes that are organised only for commercial purposes, while only persons from ‘upper crust’ are allowed to participate.
