Karachi police seek Balochistan’s help in arresting Shah Zain Mari after assault incident

Karachi: The Sindh Police has formally requested the provincial government to reach out to the Balochistan government regarding the arrest of tribal leader Shah Zain Mari. The move comes after Mari’s guards were arrested in Karachi last week on charges of assaulting two citizens in the Boat Basin area.

The incident, which was caught on video and went viral, shows several individuals — allegedly Shah Zain Mari’s guards — violently attacking two men. Initially, the police claimed that seven guards had been arrested, but later reports confirmed that five were in custody.

According to Syed Asad Raza, Deputy Inspector General (DIG) of Karachi's South Zone, Shah Zain Mari, the grandson of the late Baloch nationalist leader Nawab Khair Bakhsh Mari, is the main accused. The guards, who worked for Mari, allegedly assaulted a civilian before fleeing to Balochistan.

In a formal letter, IG Sindh Ghulam Nabi Memon urged the Chief Secretary of Sindh to communicate with Balochistan’s Chief Secretary, requesting the arrest of Shah Zain Mari and another suspect, Ghulam Qadir, who is believed to be in Balochistan. According to police sources, while five guards have been arrested, Ghulam Qadir’s location has been traced to Balochistan.

The arrests followed a First Information Report (FIR) filed by Barkat Ali Somro, an official from the Pakistan Peoples Youth Organization (PPYO). Somro accused 5-6 armed men, including Mari’s guards, of assaulting him and his friend, Waqas Ahmed, with the butt of a pistol. The attack allegedly took place on the morning of February 19, when Somro and Ahmed were traveling in their car.

According to Somro’s account, a Land Cruiser jeep followed them and, when they reached the service road near Boat Basin, the jeep reversed and collided with their vehicle. Five to six armed individuals emerged from the jeep, assaulted them, and threatened them with serious consequences. The attackers were also allegedly drunk, and Somro and Ahmed were beaten with the pistol butt, causing injuries.

A video that surfaced last week shows the 4x4 vehicle colliding with a Suzuki Alto in Boat Basin, followed by armed individuals emerging from the vehicle and beginning the assault on the two men.

DIG Asad Raza confirmed that an operation was underway to arrest other individuals involved in the incident. He also revealed that modern weapons had been recovered from the arrested guards, and investigations were underway to determine whether the weapons were licensed.