The Sindh cabinet experienced a significant reshuffle on Friday, with Babal Khan Bhayo, previously embroiled in a controversy over arms smuggling to the Katcha area, returning to his former role.
Babal Khan Bhayo resigned in April 2024 as CM adviser on Forest and Wildlife following the scandal and has been reinstated in the same position.
On April 20, Sindh police thwarted an arms smuggling attempt to the Katcha area and arrested seven individuals, including three policemen. During the operation, the police recovered thousands of bullets and two Kalashnikovs from those arrested.
A police spokesperson indicated that these weapons smuggled from Balochistan to Shikarpur in a police mobile, was intended for delivery to dacoits in the Katcha area. The mobile was assigned to the CM Adviser’s security, highlighting the direct link to the government official.
Further investigations led to the formation of a Joint Investigation Team (JIT), which uncovered the involvement of Altaf Bhayo, Babal Khan Bhayo’s son. The JIT report disclosed that Altaf had facilitated the transport of weapons using his father’s security protocol van.
Additionally, the report stated that Mehboob Bhayo, another relative of Babal Khan Bhayo, provided Rs 400,000 to the suspects for purchasing the weapons.
In other cabinet changes, Sharjeel Inam Memon was replaced as the head of the Excise Department by Mukesh Kumar Chawla. The Public Health Engineering Department was transferred from Saeed Ghani to Saleem Baloch. Muhammad Ali Malkani took over the Livestock and Fisheries Department, and Jabbar Khan was appointed Special Assistant for Food.
