PPP feels the heat of Uzair Baloch’s arrest

ISLAMABAD: Is former Sindh Home Minister Dr Zulfikar Mirza the first important figure from a fairly sizable number of politicians to be called by the Rangers for ‘interviews’ in connection with the ‘revelations’, relating to criminal activities, made by alleged Lyari gang war don Uzair Baloch during his custody with the Rangers?

The summoning of Dr Mirza by the Rangers is confirmed. But its spokesman, when approached by The News, would not talk about any other prominent politician, named by Uzair Baloch, who would also be confronted like him.

However, it is believed that the paramilitary force that has the accused in custody for 90 days for questioning will disclose at the time of its choosing the names of political stalwarts in instalments when they would be called for similar sessions.

Whatever has been repeatedly made public by ‘informed sources’ through media outlets before and after the arrest of Uzair Baloch has been pointing fingers at a few frontline Pakistan People’s Party (PPP) leaders, who have been coming out with their usual rebuttals. In the light of these claims, it was widely expected that the process of interviews would start from some PPP leader.

Dr Mirza, who has been on the right side of the powers that be after he rebelled against Zardari, was hardly ever mentioned in this list although his support and sympathy for Uzair Baloch now and before has been an open secret. Even while the accused was shown to have been arrested from the outskirts of Karachi a few weeks back, the former minister had called him his brother and skipped talk about his alleged offence. He was thrilled over his arrest in the sense that Uzair Baloch will now tell the whole story about the ‘crimes’ committed by Zardari and other PPP leaders.

The highly aggressive way Dr Mirza has been undertaking his political activities, targeting Zardari and his close aides, has been music to the ears of many people, who want the PPP to be further marginalized even in Sindh. Anybody in his place would have earned the long arms of law quickly.  Because of his connections in the right quarters, he is unlikely to spurn his summoning. Rather he will welcome it, knowing that he will not face any serious trouble or discomfort.

It appears that the Rangers have kicked off the process from Dr Mirza of calling political personalities to react to the ‘disclosures’ of Uzair Baloch. Another politician, who revolted against the PPP and joined another political party to leave it later, is also likely to be interviewed by the Rangers.

This process will not end here; it is just a beginning. Finally, some PPP leaders, who have been often alluded to in the alleged video statement, spanning several hours, recorded by the accused in custody, will be called by the Rangers.

In the light of their responses to the allegations leveled by Uzair Baloch, the paramilitary force will proceed further in formally implicating them in the criminal cases. The accused has some 50 cases of murder, extortion and kidnapping for ransom etc., against him.

The PPP was deeply disturbed for obvious reasons when Uzair Baloch’s arrest was publicised. Its leaders insisted that they have nothing to do with his criminal acts. But they smelled a rat in the announcement of his arrest and said efforts were being made to link his crimes with some of them.

On one side are the denials of the PPP leaders having any link with the accused while on the other is the persistent declaration of Dr Mirza to have close connections with him all the time. The former home minister has already admitted that he had issued 300,000 arm licences while holding this portfolio. He has always been a great supporter of the People’s Peace Committee of Lyari that used to be headed by Uzair Baloch before it was banned by the previous Sindh government of the PPP.

It is generally known that Uzair Baloch was quietly brought back from Dubai at least nine months before his arrest was made public. He is believed to have been in the custody of some agency during this time. His fleeing from Pakistan after the launch of the Rangers’ targeted operation in September 2013, his sudden arrest in Dubai, the efforts to transport him back to Pakistan, their failure, his arrest from the outskirts of Karachi etc., are all shrouded in mystery. Nobody has ever bothered to give a plausible explanation to these questions.