A district court on Saturday extended the pre-arrest bail of Khawaja Aqeel alias Gogi Butt until September 1 in the murder case of Ameer Balaj, son of the late Arif Ameer, widely known as Tippu Truckanwala.
The court directed the accused to cooperate fully with the police and formally join the investigation, which is being carried out at the Chung Police Station, where the case was originally registered.
During the proceedings, Gogi appeared in court under strict security arrangements.
His counsel argued that he had been falsely implicated in the case due to enmities, maintaining that the allegations listed in the FIR had no connection to him.
The defence contended that the case was an attempt to settle scores rather than based on evidence.
The investigation officer (IO) informed the court that despite earlier assurances, the accused had not yet joined the investigation.
Taking notice, the judge instructed Gogi Butt to appear before the police and cooperate in the inquiry.
Earlier, Gogi Butt had secured pre-arrest bail on August 16, arguing that while he wished to cooperate with the authorities, he feared immediate arrest if he approached the investigators.
The court had granted him temporary relief, which has now been extended.
The case has drawn widespread attention due to the stature of the victim’s family.
In February last year, Ameer Balaj, owner of a goods transport network, was shot dead during a wedding ceremony in the Chung area.
His murder sent shockwaves through Lahore’s transport community. Balaj was the son of the slain Arif Ameer alias Tippu Truckanwala, who himself was gunned down in 2010 at Lahore airport in a high-profile killing that exposed violent rivalries in the city’s transport sector.
The extension of bail means that Gogi Butt, a well-known figure in Lahore’s business and social circles, remains protected from arrest for now but is bound by the court’s orders to actively participate in the investigation.
The court made clear that his cooperation with police will be crucial to determining whether the bail continues or is withdrawn.
The next hearing has been scheduled for September 1, when the court will review whether the accused complied with its directions and joined the investigation.
