Robber’s son runs for town council

KARACHI: The only son of Charagh Bali, a notorious criminal who created unrest in the Punjab for two decades, is heading an independent group to be elected as chairman municipal committee from his native town.
Zafar Bali is a graduate and his children are also educated. His father Charagh Bali was arrested many times and was killed in a targeted operation in 1973. Movies and dramas have been made on his character and books published.
Zafar Bali is heading the Awam Dost Ittehad group in Hadali, where people still remember him as Robin Hood. He told The News that his father was part of Sara-e-Hind Dasta in the army. He said his father was involved in confrontation with the police after he was arrested in crimes related to family feud. He said when the government tightened noose around him, he sent Zafar to his friend Akbar Bugti in Dera Bugti. He said Bugti raised him like his sons and did not let him know of his father’s death for 10 years. He said his marriage was also conducted as per rituals of Bugtis.
Zafar said the grandchildren of Charagh Bali are highly educated. He said his family was settled in Karachi where he makes dramas. He said he returned to his native town four years ago where people respect his father though the government had killed him as a robber. He said he has entered politics to continue his father’s mission of welfare of the masses.