'Most wanted' Lyari gangster Ghaffar Zikri killed in police encounter

KARACHI: Notorious gangster Ghaffar Zikri was killed along with an accomplice and his 3-year-old son on Thursday morning in Ali Muhammed Muhallah of Lyari during a police shootout, ARY News reported.

According to details, the police team carried out a successful operation in Lyari leaving the ‘most wanted’ gangster Ghaffar Zikri and one of his aides, Chhota Zahid killed. A  three-year old son of the gangster also died in the shootout.

During the operation, three police officers were injured, one of them said to be in a critical condition.

The area has now been completely cordoned off by police and the rangers.

Ghaffar Zikri, a symbol of terror in Lyari, was wanted to police in over 100 cases, which include murder, extortion, kidnapping for ransom and several other crimes. The government had announced Rs. 2.5 million bounty for Zikri’s head.

Ghaffar Zikri was one of the key players of Lyari gang war including Rehman Dakait,, Uzair Baloch, Baba Ladla and Arshad Pappu.

Last year, infamous gang war leader Uzair Baloch and chief of the proscribed People’s Amn Committee was taken into military custody on charges of espionage, according to Director General Inter Services Public Relations (ISPR) Major General Asif Ghafoor.

The Lyari gangster, who has confessed committing crimes at the behest of influential people, is in military custody under Pakistan Army Act / Official Secret Act – 1923 over leakage of sensitive security information to foreign intelligence agencies, as per ISPR.