��������

ISLAMABAD: Suspected Pakistani gangster Khawaja Tareef Butt, also known as Teefi Butt, was killed by unidentified gunmen in Punjab’s Rahim Yar Khan district while being transported from Karachi after his deportation from the United Arab Emirates, police said on Saturday. 

Butt, regarded as an underworld don in the eastern city of Lahore, was wanted in connection with the killing of Ameer Balaj Tipu, the son of Tipu Truckanwala, often described as another notorious underworld figure. The murder was part of a decades-old feud between the two families, which also claimed the lives of Tipu’s father and grandfather, Billa Truckanwala, in the past.

Butt was arrested in Dubai last week with the assistance of Interpol and Dubai Police before being handed over to the Punjab Police Extradition Cell.

Following his deportation, Butt arrived at Karachi Airport and was being transported to Lahore by road when, according to the Crime Control Department (CCD) of Punjab Police, he escaped but was later killed during a shootout.

“At around 5:00, the Rahim Yar Khan CCD team spotted two suspicious vehicles and tried to intercept them. A heavy exchange of fire ensued between the CCD team and the assailants lasting for about 20 to 25 minutes,” the CCD said in a statement.

“One person was found seriously injured at the scene. He succumbed to his injuries while being evacuated to a local hospital by the CCD team. Later on, he was identified as Khawaja Tareef Butt alias Teefi Butt.”

One CCD official was injured in the initial exchange of fire during Butt’s escape, while another was wounded in the subsequent shootout.

“Multiple teams from both the local police and CCD Rahim Yar Khan are actively pursuing those involved in the attack, injuring two police officials and the killing of Teefi Butt,” the CCD added.

LAHORE: South African stand-in captain Aiden Markram said home side Pakistan were well within their rights to prepare extreme turning wickets for their two-test series, which starts in Lahore on Sunday, as they did last year to beat England.

Their 2-1 series win over England a year ago came after they had used a pair of giant windbreaks, two outsized fans and six patio heaters to accelerate the deterioration of the pitch and create a surface that offered spinners maximum turn and grip.

It was a successful ploy as they came back from losing the first test to trump England in conditions that losing captain Ben Stokes called “pretty extreme”.

But Markram, who leads South Africa in place of injured skipper Temba Bavuma, said that was all part of the challenge.

“We saw how things turned out in the English series,” he told a press conference on Saturday. “That was obviously Pakistan's way of trying to win, and it's completely fair, and we look forward to that challenge.”

South Africa had worked hard in preparing, he added, creating wickets with extreme spin to practice on at a training camp before their departure.

“That's where most of the focus has been, naturally looking forward to the challenges that Pakistan pose in terms of spin-friendly tracks.

“As a team that's not exposed to those conditions, it's exciting for us and a great opportunity to get things right in these conditions. We're trying to put a lot of the focus there, and ultimately put five days of good cricket together for the first Test.”

Besides Bavuma, South Africa must do without their lead spinner Keshav Maharaj, who misses the first Test as he recovers from a groin strain.

“We’ll miss Kesh heaps,” Markram told reporters. “He's incredible, even when the ball doesn't spin, so it's a big loss for us but it's an opportunity for two or three other new spinners of ours to put their hand up and stake a claim, which is really exciting.”

Senuran Muthusamy and Simon Harmer, who last played a test two years ago, are likely to be in the team.