A Joint Investigation Team (JIT) has implicated Altaf Bhayo, son of Sindh CM adviser on Forest and Wildlife Babal Khan Bhayo, for the smuggling of arms to riverine area dacoits in the Katcha area.
The JIT report states that Altaf Bhayosed his father’s security protocol van to assist the suspects arrested while transporting weapons. “The police mobile van was provided to the smugglers upon their request,” the report specified.
Additionally, the JIT found that Mehboob Bhayo, another relative of Babal Khan Bhayo, facilitated the purchase of weapons by providing Rs 400,000 to the suspects.
Ishtiaq Lashari, identified as a key member of the smuggling gang, is also implicated in the report.
Sindh police intercepted the smuggling attempt and arrested seven individuals, including three policemen, in Shikarpur on April 19.
Sindh Inspector General of Police (IGP) Ghulam Nabi Memon tasked the JIT, led by Deputy Inspector General (DIG) Larkana, with conducting a detailed investigation.
During the operation, the police recovered thousands of bullets and two Kalashnikovs from those arrested. A police spokesperson revealed that the arms were smuggled from Balochistan to Shikarpur in the police vehicle assigned to the CM Adviser’s security.
A case has been registered at Jacobabad’s Moladad police station. Inspector Ishtiaq Ahmed filed the complaint under the Anti-Terrorism Act against four arms smugglers and three policemen.
The individuals implicated in the case are Ikhtiar Ahmed Lashari, Nabeel Ahmed Bhayo, Taufiq Ahmed Gujjar, Zakir Hussain Bhayo, ASI Imtiaz Ahmed Bhayo, and constables Sanaullah Manganhar and Baqaullah Unnar.
Following the controversy, Sindh Chief Minister Syed Murad Ali Shah accepted Babal Khan Bhayo’s resignation to allow a ‘transparent inquiry.’ Babal Khan Bhayo has called for an impartial investigation and urged the Sindh government to make the findings public.