Karachi’s Orangi Town Robbery Case: Magistrate extends remand of DSP Tariq Umair Bajari in kidnapping, robbery case

A magistrate extended the remand of Umair Tariq Bajari, a DSP of Sindh Police posted in district South Karachi, by another day in the kidnapping and Orangi Town Robbery Case.

The DSP Umair Tariq Bajari and his two gunmen — Constable Khurram Ali and Constable Farhan Ali — and several others have been booked for raiding the house of trader Shakir Khan in Orangi Town on the night between Nov 18 and 19, looting over Rs20 million, jewellery and other valuables and briefly kidnapping the trader and his brother.

On Thursday, the investigating officer produced the DSP Umair Tariq Bajari before the magistrate and requested the court to extend his remand by one week as the police had to arrest the remaining suspects in the case.

The counsel for complainant Shakir Khan also appeared in court and argued that the police had deliberately not invoked relevant provisions of the Pakistan Penal Code and the Anti-Terrorism Act, 1997 to favour the suspects as it was a case of kidnapping for ransom and to be tried by an anti-terrorism court.

On the other hand, strict action has also been initiated against the SSP in charge of the suspended DSP Umair Tariq, who has already been arrested for the robbery.

The strictest action has also been initiated against the suspended SSP South Imran Qureshi, who was arrested in the robbery of 2.5 crores in the house of a businessman in the Orangi Town area of Karachi.

IG Sindh Rifat Mukhtar said that the IG Sindh office cannot take direct action against the suspended SSP Imran Qureshi, the authority in this regard lies with the Government of Sindh, the Home Department or the Establishment Division.

He said that a letter was written on his behalf to the Sindh Home Department and at the same time the Home Department has recommended to the Establishment Division for an inquiry into the involvement of the SSP behind the illegal raids or robbery.

According to IG Sindh, an inquiry has been recommended against the suspended SSP South Imran Qureshi and his services should be handed over to the federal government immediately.

DSP Umair Tariq Bajari, Khurram and Farman along with 20 others were booked in the Orangi Town heist case under charges of dacoity and kidnapping on the complaint of Shakir Khan, the affected man.

According to FIR, Shakir Khan said he is doing wholesale business of sanitary items in Orangi Town. On November 19, around 20 cops in uniform and civil dress raided his house around 2:20 am.

Later, SHO Defence police station returned Rs10.3 million, 50 tola gold, and 12 mobile phones to them, Shakir Khan said in his complaint.

After the probe, the Karachi police department removed DSP Bajari from the post for his direct involvement in the dacoity, whereas, Senior Superintendent Police (SSP) South Imran Qureshi was removed from his position for exhibiting negligence.

In a dramatic turn of events, the robbers have returned the articles including cash and gold to the victim.