Police nabs 7-member gang wanted for 32 burglaries

* Looted valuables worth Rs 2 million recovered

LAHORE: A seven-member gang of burglars has been arrested and confessed to at least 32 thefts in Defence, Senior Superintendent of Police (SSP) Investigation Chaudhry Shafqat Ahmed said on Monday.

Mr Ahmed said the arrests were made by a police team headed by Deputy Superintendent of Police Masud Aziz, formed on the direction of City Police Chief Tariq Saleem Dogar.

The team arrested gang leader Rehmat Ali alias Rehmati and his accomplice Aasia, who, during interrogation, disclosed the names of five more associates, Abdul Khaliq, Zulfiqar, Muhammad Imran, Shahid Iqbal and Sajid Ali. They were arrested later.

SSP Ahmed said the gang had two strategies. The first was that Aasia would get a job as a maidservant in a target house and loot it when there was no one else home. The second method was that the gang would burgle empty houses in Defence.

He said all the arrested were involved in other crimes. Eight cases were already registered against gang leader Rehmat, seven against Khaliq, four against Zulfiqar, four against Sajid and four cases against Imran.

The SSP said the police confiscated stolen property worth Rs 2 million including 18 televisions, four CD players, two video cassette recorders, 1.14 kg of gold jewellery, two irons, one fridge, three clocks, seven cameras, one telescope, 60 CDs, 27 tape recorders, two video cameras, two computers, eight blankets, two carpets and one cellular phone. They also confiscated unlicensed weapons including one pump action, one 0.12 bore calibre rifle, five 0.30 bore calibre pistols and several bullets.

About the Police Ordinance 2002, Mr Ahmed said before this ordinance, police officers could misuse their authority for personal motives, but after the implementation of this ordinance, chances of malfunctions were rare. —Staff Report

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