Suspect wanted for attack on Rangers arrested in PIB Colony raid

The PIB Colony police on Monday claimed to have arrested a gangster belonging to the Darwesh group who was wanted in multiple cases including attacks on Rangers personnel.

Officials said they acted on information that a criminal declared an absconder under anti-terrorism laws was present in Carnaal Basti, PIB Colony. A raid was conducted to the arrest the suspect identified as Rahat Khan Khattak. 

It was said Khattak was affiliated with the notorious Darwesh Group and was a prime accused in a retaliatory attack on personnel of the Pakistan Rangers’ 84 Wing during a raid conducted in 2014.

In the said attack, two paramilitary soldiers, Zaheer Ahmed and Rashid Ali, were injured along with a civilian, Abuzar.

In the same encounter, one of Khattak’s companions, Mehmood Khokhar alias Pappoo, was killed but Khattak had managed to escape at the time. 

He is also accused in extortion and drug trafficking cases. The police recovered a TT pistol with seven bullets from his possession and sent it for forensic analysis. 

In April this year, another Darwesh Group member wanted for involvement in target killings was arrested by the PIB Colony police in a raid conducted near Old Sabzi Mandi. 

Officials said the suspect, Yaqoob alias Fauji, belonged to the notorious ‘Darwesh Group’ and there were murder and drug peddling cases registered against him at various police stations, the most being with the PIB police. Yaqoob was also declared an absconder in an ATC case (FIR No 76/14 U/S 302/109/34 PPC read with Section 7 of the ATA.)

The raid, as per officials, was conducted after they received a tip-off. As the law enforcers moved in, the suspect tried to escape under the cover of fire. However, he was injured in retaliatory fire and the cops arrested him with his weapon in hand.

Police officials said Yaqoob was heading a gang working under the ‘Darwesh Group’ and had murdered citizens who raised a voice against drug dealers in his area. He was also involved in the killing of a religious party’s workers, Qari Muhammad Rahim and Muhammd Zaman, in 2014.