The Joint Investigation Team (JIT) probing the high-profile Ameer Balaj Tipu murder case has found Khawaja Aqeel, better known as Gogi Butt, guilty of involvement in the assassination, sources confirmed on Tuesday.

According to investigators, Gogi Butt was in close contact with the main accused, Tareef Butt alias Teefi Butt, and played a central role in planning the killing. Officials revealed that he had previously been named in multiple murder cases linked to the Tipu family feud.

JIT sources said that Gogi Butt not only maintained regular contact with Teefi Butt but also actively participated in the murder plot. They added that he went into hiding immediately after the killing of Ameer Balaj, further strengthening suspicions about his role. The investigation team has now decided to move the court in the next hearing to request cancellation of his bail.

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Despite the progress, the probe is far from over. Teefi Butt remains a declared absconder, and investigators are facing difficulties in arresting all suspects connected to the case. Sources claim Teefi Butt managed to escape abroad through Karachi soon after the murder, while Gogi Butt was present in Lahore at the time.

On February 19, 2024, Ameer Balaj Tipu, the son of the late Arif Ameer—popularly known as Tipu Truckanwala—was gunned down in what police described as a targeted attack in Lahore’s Chuhng area. Balaj, said to be in his early 30s, was attending a wedding when an armed assailant opened fire, leaving him critically injured.

Three of his companions were also hurt in the attack. In the chaos, Balaj’s guards retaliated, killing the shooter on the spot. Doctors later confirmed that Balaj sustained four bullet wounds to the chest and died due to severe bleeding.