Operation Zarb-e-Ahan

Last updated
Operation Zarb-e-Ahan
Part of Organised crime in Pakistan
Rangers Pakistan Sindh.jpg
A ranger in Sindh, their Punjabi counterparts were instrumental in the operation’s success
Date28 March 2016 – 20 April 2016 (24 days)
Location
Rajanpur District, Punjab
Result Pakistani victory [1] [2]
Belligerents

Flag of Pakistan.svg Pakistan

Chotu gang
Commanders and leaders

Flag of Pakistan.svg Nawaz Sharif
(Prime Minister of Pakistan)

Flag of Pakistan.svg Shehbaz Sharif
(Chief Minister of Punjab)

Flag of the Chief of the Army Staff (Pakistan).svg Raheel Sharif
(Chief of Army Staff)

Flag of the Pakistani Army.svg Lt. Col Asim Raza Khan Sajid

Flag of Punjab Police.png IG Mushtaq Ahmad Sukhera

Ghulam Rasool (POW)

Pyara Rasool (POW)

other local commanders
Strength
2,400 300
Casualties and losses

Flag of Punjab Police.png Punjab Police: 6 killed, 24 abducted

Flag of Punjab.svg Punjab Rangers: None

Flag of the Pakistani Army.svg Pakistan Army: None		 54 killed, 175+ arrested
24 policemen held by the Chotu gang released

Operation Zarb-e-Ahan was an operation conducted jointly by the Pakistan Army, Punjab Rangers and Punjab Police. [3] The operation targeted the Chotu gang, a band of dacoits (bandits) who regularly committed murders, kidnappings, and highway robbery. The operation was successful, with many gang members being killed and captured, including its leader, Ghulam Rasool. [4] Afterwards, the Government of Pakistan consolidated their control, and the Chotu gang became defunct.

Contents

Background

The Chotu gang was a Pakistani gang that engaged in kidnapping, murder, smuggling, gun-running and highway robberies led by Ghulam Rasool who goes by the alias, "Chotu." The gang was based in the Kacha area of Rajanpur. [5] [6] [7] The gang was involved in many crimes in areas surrounding areas of the Rajanpur. [8]

The gang was also known for abducting people from Karachi, Balochistan and Rahim Yar Khan. [9] Punjab Police conducted multiple operations against them, all of them ending in failure. The Punjab Police conducted their first operation in 2010, which continued for three months without results. The Punjab Police also held an operation in 2013. [8] The gang used light and heavy weapons procured from Afghanistan, including light machine guns, heavy machine guns and an anti-aircraft gun. [10]

A suicide bombing in Lahore, had links with dacoits in southern Punjab, resulting in a harsh response by the government. [11]

Battle

The Chotu gang, using their familiarity of the terrain to their advantage, decided to stay in a heavily forested riverine island called Kacha Jamal. [12] The trees covered their movements, forcing security forces to fight on the gang's terms. Police forces attempted an amphibious landing, engaging in a firefight with the gang, but were outwitted, resulting in seven policemen being killed and 24 being abducted. [13]

It was clear that the threat of the gang had gotten out of hand, and as a result the army took control of the operation. Punjab Rangers fired mortar rounds to halt any advance of the Chotu gang, who were using 24 captured police officers, including an SHO as human shields. [14] The army, seeing that the Chotu gang had the advantage on ground, took the fight to the air, dispatching attack helicopters. [15] These attack helicopters were then used to pound the gang's hideouts and outposts, killing many gang members and forcing many more to flee, many of who would be captured later. [16]

On April 18, the army dropped pamphlets to the gang via helicopter, and warned of a sweeping assault if they did not surrender. [11]

Chotu surrenders

Only two days later after the ultimatum, Chotu, along with 170 of his gang members, surrendered to government forces. [11] This came out of the gang leader, Ghulam Rasool, unwilling to be labelled a terrorist, and recognising it was not possible for the gang to resist the army. [12]

Aftermath

The convicts included Ghulam Rasool alias Chotu, his brother Pyara, Nadir, Deen Muhammad, Khalid alias Khaldi, Ishaq alias Bilal, Akram alias Akri, Ghulam Haidar, Hakim, Razzaq, Majid, Nasir, Sher Khan, Jumma alias Bhutta, Rasheed, Behram, Bashir, Abdul Wahid, Mujeeb-ur-Rahman, and Hussain Bakhsh. [17]

The convicts were awarded death sentence on six counts under Section 302 of Pakistan Penal Code, six counts under Section 7 of the Anti-Terrorism Act and another six counts under Section 3 of the Explosive Substance Act 1908.

The convicts were also charged with Rs. 6.2 million fine each or undergo additional imprisonment in case of default. All the 22 convicted would also undergo life imprisonment. [17]

Related Research Articles

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Rajanpur District</span> District of Punjab in Pakistan

Rajanpur is a district of the Pakistani province of Punjab, with its administrative headquarters the city of Rajanpur. Lying west of the Indus River, its inhabitants are mostly Saraikis and Baloch. According to the 1998 census, the district had a population of 1,100,000, and 14.27% of these were inhabitants of urban areas.

Sardar Nabil Ahmed Gabol is a Pakistani politician who has been a Member of the National Assembly of Pakistan since 2024. Previously he had been a member of the National Assembly from 2002 to 2015 and a member of the Provincial Assembly of Sindh from 1988 to 1990 and again from 1993 to 1996. He served as Minister of State for Ports and Shipping from 2008 to 2011 and as Deputy Speaker of the Sindh Assembly from 1993 to 1996.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Pakistan Administrative Service</span> Civil administrative department of the government of Pakistan

The Pakistan Administrative Service, or PAS is an elite cadre of the Civil Services of Pakistan. The Pakistan Administrative Service over the years has emerged as the most consolidated and developed post-colonial institution in Pakistan, with the PAS officers of Grade 22 often seen as stronger than the federal government ministers. The service of PAS is generalist in nature and officers are assigned to different departments all across Pakistan during the course of their careers. Almost all of the country's highest-profile positions such as the Federal Secretaries, the provincial Chief Secretaries, and chairmen of top-heavy organizations like the National Highway Authority, Trading Corporation of Pakistan and State Life Insurance Corporation usually belong to the Pakistan Administrative Service.

Organized crime in Pakistan refers to the activities of groups of organized crime in Pakistan, The Pakistani mafia is spread in many countries. Pakistani mafia groups are mostly ethnically based. The Pakistani mafia is involved in drug trafficking, assassination, land grabbing, arms smuggling and various other illegal activities.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">NA-95 Faisalabad-I</span> Constituency of the National Assembly of Pakistan

NA-95 Faisalabad-I is a constituency for the National Assembly of Pakistan.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">PP-1 Attock-I</span> Constituency of the Punjabi Provincial Legislature, Pakistan

PP-1 Attock-I is a Constituency of Provincial Assembly of Punjab.

Chotu gang was a Pakistani gang that engaged in kidnapping, murder, smuggling, gun-running and highway robberies led by Ghulam Rasool who goes by the alias, "Chotu." The gang was based in the Kacha area of Rajanpur. This gang was involved in many crimes in areas surrounding areas of the Rajanpur. The gang was also known for abducting people from Karachi, Balochistan and Rahim Yar Khan. Punjab Police conducted multiple operations against them, all of them ending in smoke. Punjab Police held first operation in 2010, that continued for three months without getting the required results. Punjab police also held an operation in 2013. The gang used light and heavy weapons procured from Afghanistan, including light machine guns, heavy machine guns and an anti-aircraft gun.

<i>Geo Sar Utha Kay</i> Pakistani film

Geo Sar Utha Kay is a 2017 Pakistani action-drama film which is directed and produced by Nadeem Cheema under his production banner of Cheema Films.

Muhammad Mohsin Khan Leghari is a Pakistani politician who had been a member of the National Assembly of Pakistan from March 2023 till August 2023. He also served as Provincial Minister of Punjab for Irrigation from August 2018 till April 2022, and for Finance from August 2022 till January 2023. He had been a member of the 14th Provincial Assembly of Punjab (2003-2007) and the 15th Provincial Assembly of Punjab (2008-2012). He had been elected for the 3rd tenure to the Provincial Assembly of the Punjab and served from August 2018 till January 2023. He has also represented Punjab in the Senate of Pakistan from March 2012 to March 2018.

On 1 December 2017, 3–4 gunmen arrived at the hostel of Agricultural Training Institute at Agricultural University Peshawar and started firing as a result of which at least 13 people were killed and 35+ were injured. Tehreek-e-Taliban claimed responsibility for the attack.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Sikandar Sultan Raja</span> Chief Election Commissioner of Pakistan

Sikandar Sultan Raja is a retired Pakistani civil servant who has been the Chief Election Commissioner of Pakistan since January 2020. Raja belongs to the Pakistan Administrative Service and is batchmates with Rizwan Ahmed, Hussain Asghar, Fawad Hasan Fawad and Jawad Rafique Malik.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Punjab Constabulary</span> Law enforcement reserve police agency

The Punjab Constabulary is a law enforcement agency in Pakistan which is responsible to maintain peace in Punjab Province by assisting Punjab Police. IG Police is the provincial police officer and heads all subordinate police units. Punjab Constabulary is a police unit working under the command of Commandant. It takes actions to maintain law and order in the province and participate in different rescue operations. Punjab Constabulary is reserve police which provides security to different personalities and guards are deputed at different sensitive buildings all over the Punjab.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Sahir Shamshad Mirza</span> 18th Chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff Committee

General Sahir Shamshad MirzaNI(M)HI(M) is a four-star rank general in the Pakistan Army, currently serving as the 18th Chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff Committee appointed to the post on 27 November 2022. Prior to his appointment as Commander of X Corps at Rawalpindi, he previously served as 35th Chief of General Staff until he was succeeded by Azhar Abbas.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Baloch Nationalist Army</span> Militant group in Pakistan

Baloch Nationalist Army (BNA) (Urdu: بلوچ نیشنلسٹ آرمی) was a militant group, fighting for the separation of Balochistan province. The group was formed on January 11, 2022, out of a merger of the Baloch Republican Army (BRA), and the United Baloch Army (UBA). BRA and UBA also announced their dissolution following the establishment of Baloch Nationalist Army.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">No-confidence motion against Imran Khan</span> 2022 removal from office of the Pakistani prime minister

In April 2022, a no-confidence motion against Imran Khan led to his removal as the prime minister of Pakistan. Based largely on the Westminster system of legislature, the prime minister commands confidence of the majority of the lower house of Parliament, the National Assembly of Pakistan, under clause (2A) of Article 91 of the Constitution. Numerous opposition parties joined forces to file the motion of no confidence against Imran Khan in the National Assembly. It ultimately led to the removal of Khan from office as a majority passed the motion in the Lower House.

The Politics of Muzaffargarh takes place at the municipal, provincial and federal levels of the government. ؐMuzaffargarh is a multiethnic, multilingual, multicultural and multireligious city. Tthere are one Municipal Corporation, six Municipal committees, thirteen Town committee and five Thesil councils according to he Punjab Local Government Act 2019. At a national level, Muzaffargarh is very important in provincial and national politics.

Lieutenant General Chaudhary Sarfraz Ali was a three star Pakistani general who was serving as Corps Commander Quetta since December 2020 and Commander of the Azad Kashmir Regiment since December 2021 until his death in a helicopter crash on 1 August 2022.

The events listed below are both anticipated and scheduled for the year 2023 in Pakistan.

On March 14, 2023, a wave of protests erupted after the Punjab Police attempted to arrest the former prime minister of Pakistan, Imran Khan, nearly one year after his removal from office. The climax of a series of events — including, but not limited to, Khan being charged under anti-terror laws after accusing government officials of unlawfully torturing an aide, his removal from office, and an attempt on his life five months prior — the attempted arrest led to Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) party workers and supporters clashing with police outside Khan's residence in Lahore, despite the arrest being called off. The clashes, which persisted for several days, led to the arrests of party workers, supporters being suppressed with tear gas and water cannons, as well as 54 police officers being "seriously injured".

Usman Anwar is a Pakistani police officer who is Inspector General of the Punjab Police in the province of Punjab, Pakistan since 24 January 2023.

References

  1. ↑ "Chotu gang surrenders before Pak Army, captives released". thenews.com.pk. 20 April 2016. Retrieved 2024-01-06.
  2. ↑ "Chotu surrenders". thefridaytimes.com. 22 April 2016. Retrieved 2024-01-06.
  3. ↑ "The bitter truth about Chotu's gang". The Nation. 2016-04-22. Retrieved 2024-01-04.
  4. ↑ Gabol, Dawn com | Imran (2016-04-20). "Chotoo, gang members surrender unconditionally to army: ISPR". DAWN.COM. Retrieved 2024-01-04.
  5. ↑ "Small matter of the Chotoo gang - Newspaper". Dawn.Com. 15 April 2016. Retrieved 2016-04-15.
  6. ↑ "Chotu Gang takes a heavy toll on raiding police". Nation.com.pk. 14 April 2016. Retrieved 2016-04-15.
  7. ↑ "Operation Zarb-e-Ahan: Every terrorist will be eliminated, says Sukhera - The Express Tribune". Tribune.com.pk. 2016-04-11. Retrieved 2016-04-15.
  8. 1 2 Gabol, Dawn.com | Imran (2016-04-20). "Chotoo with gang members surrenders unconditionally to army, says ISPR". www.dawn.com. Retrieved 2016-04-20.
  9. ↑ Gabol, Imran (2016-04-16). "The rise of Chotoo and his gang". www.dawn.com. Retrieved 2016-04-20.
  10. ↑ "Who are Pakistan's Chhotu bandits?". BBC News. 18 April 2016. Retrieved 2016-04-19.
  11. 1 2 3 "Chotu surrenders". The Friday Times. 2016-04-22. Retrieved 2024-01-06.
  12. 1 2 Syed, Imran Gabol | Baqir Sajjad (2016-04-21). "Army vows to clear all no-go areas in Punjab". DAWN.COM. Retrieved 2024-01-06.
  13. ↑ "Chotu gang surrenders before Pak Army, captives released". The News International. 2016-04-20. Retrieved 2024-01-06.
  14. ↑ https://www.dawn.com/news/1253296/chotoo-with-gang-members-surrenders-unconditionally-to-army-says-ispr
  15. ↑ "Army helicopters strike Chotu gang in full-scale Rajanpur offensive". The Express Tribune. 2016-04-18. Retrieved 2024-01-06.
  16. ↑ Alam, M. M. (2016-04-15). "Gunship Helicopters commence targeting Chotu Gang bandits". Home - News Pakistan TV. Retrieved 2024-01-06.
  17. 1 2 "Chotu Gang leader among 22 awarded death sentence". www.thenews.com.pk. Retrieved 2019-03-14.
This page is based on this Wikipedia article
Text is available under the CC BY-SA 4.0 license; additional terms may apply.
Images, videos and audio are available under their respective licenses.