Man wanted for 2013 bank heist held

The Special Investigation Unit (SIU) of the Crime Investigation Agency has arrested a key suspect who was involved in the March 22, 2013 heist in a private bank branch located on Khayaban-e-Ittehad, DHA.

SIU Senior Superintendent of Police (SSP) Peer Fareed Jaan Sarhandi told The News on Saturday that a team conducted a raid in a Defense Housing Authority on Monday and arrested Sarfaraz Ahmed, son of Nisar Ahmed Yousafzai, who was wanted to police for the bank robbery.

He said the suspect had landed a job in Rescue Security, a private security-providing firm, and he talked to his companions about the Soneri Bank branch in 2013. He added that the robbers took away Rs2,195,970, $2,173, 1,190 euros and 595 pounds from the branch.

An FIR was lodged under sections 395 and 109 of the Pakistan Penal Code at Darakhshan Police Station. SSP Sarhandi said Ahmed was associated with notorious bank robbers’ Parachanaar Group, and the weapon the SIU seized from his possession during the raid belonged to the security company he was working for in 2013.

Separately, SIU arrested two suspects during a raid in the jurisdiction of Docks Police Station over charges of involvement in bank-related crimes. He said Sajjad Ali Khan alias Patha, son of Bacha Rehman Khan, and Muhammad Ayub alias Ustaad, son of Sher Bahadur, had shot dead Muhammad Iqbal, son of Yousuf, and injured Muhammad Nauman, son of Iqbal, in the jurisdiction of Napier Police Station over showing resistance to their cash-snatching attempt last year.

An FIR was registered under sections 392, 397 and 34 read with Section 396 of the PPC against them, and they both were declared absconders in this case. SSP Sarhandi said the suspects were associated with a group which was engaged in snatching cash from bank customers.

He added that their two companions had already been arrested. He said police seized illegal arms and ammunition from the possession of both suspects, and started interrogation.