Robbers who impersonated cops and carried out short-term kidnappings arrested

The District East police have arrested two suspects posing as police officers near Maskan Chowrangi. The suspects, identified as Bilawal Khilji and Waqas, were allegedly involved in multiple short-term kidnappings, targeting police personnel, journalists, civil aviation officials, the brother of a judge and other citizens.

According to police officials, the suspects lured victims through illicit websites, befriended them, and later abducted them upon meeting in person. They would detain the victims for hours, manhandle them, and force them to withdraw large sums of money from ATMs. In some cases, they even looted valuables from their homes.

During the raid, police recovered two pistols, 20 bags, police uniforms, fake bulletproof jackets, badges, eight mobile phones, multiple wristwatches and an LCD screen from the suspects’ possession.

Khilji, the gang leader, hailed from Rahim Yar Khan but was residing in Gulshan-e-Iqbal, Karachi. Investigators have retrieved disturbing videos from his mobile phone, showing abducted individuals handcuffed pleading for mercy. CCTV footage has also been obtained, capturing the gang’s movements before and after their crimes.

Many of these videos were recorded at the victims’ residences, where the suspects forced their targets — including government employees and civilians — to beg for forgiveness while handcuffed.

Khilji has five cases registered against him in Rahim Yar Khan and two in Karachi. His accomplice Waqas also played an active role in the criminal activities of the gang by impersonating a police constable. The suspects purchased police uniforms, belts and badges from shops in Saddar without any verification.

Police investigators said they were reaching out to more victims to strengthen the case against the suspects. Further investigations are under way to identify and arrest other members of the gang.