LAHORE: The prime suspect in the Ameer Balaj murder case, Khawaja Taarif Gulshan alias Teefi Butt, was killed in the exchange of fire during his transfer from Karachi to Lahore.
According to police sources, Teefi Butt was brought to Pakistan from Dubai yesterday. He was taken into custody by the Counter-Terrorism Department (CCD) from Karachi Airport and was being transferred to Lahore by road.
According to a CCD spokesperson, when the team reached near Sanjarpur, Rahim Yar Khan, unknown armed men in two vehicles suddenly attacked the police. As a result of the firing, a policeman was injured while the attackers freed the handcuffed accused Teefi Butt from police custody and fled.
After the incident, the police cordoned off the area. At around 5 am, two suspicious vehicles were stopped and the exchange of fire resumed which lasted for 25 minutes. Meanwhile, one person was shifted to the hospital in a seriously injured condition where he succumbed to his injuries. He was later identified as Teefi Butt.
According to the CCD spokesperson, a search operation is underway to find the attackers, while a case of the incident has been registered at Kot Sabzal police station on the complaint of the DSP CTD.
The case includes sections of attempt to murder, attack on police, and terrorism.
According to the police, the number of attackers was seven to eight who stopped the CCD vehicle and started firing. The injured driver-constable was shifted to the hospital where his condition is said to be critical.
It should be remembered that Teefi Butt was the main accused in the murder case of renowned Karachi businessman Ameer Balaj, who was arrested from Dubai and brought to Pakistan. Police say that the background of the incident and the network of attackers are being investigated.
