Rahim Yar Khan, Pakistan — In a dramatic turn of events, notorious gangster Khawaja Tareef Gulshan, known as Teefi Butt, was killed in an alleged police encounter on the outskirts of Rahim Yar Khan early on Saturday, October 11, 2025. His death marks a significant development in the longstanding gang warfare that has plagued Lahore for over three decades.
Teefi Butt had been extradited from Dubai just a day prior, following his arrest with the assistance of Interpol. He was being transported by the Punjab Crime Control Department (CCD) to Lahore when the incident occurred. According to the CCD, as the convoy approached the Sindh-Punjab border near Rahim Yar Khan, a group of armed assailants ambushed the police vehicle, opening fire and injuring the driver. In the ensuing chaos, Butt was reportedly freed from custody.
Subsequent reports indicate that during a second exchange of gunfire between the assailants and pursuing police forces, Butt was found critically wounded. He was transported to a nearby hospital but succumbed to his injuries before arrival. Two police officers were also injured in the crossfire. (Dawn)
Teefi Butt had been a central figure in the murder of Ameer Balaj Tipu, a prominent member of the rival Truckanwala gang. The murder, which occurred during a wedding ceremony in 2024, had intensified the longstanding feud between the Butt and Truckanwala gangs. Butt, along with his cousin Khawaja Aqeel (Gogi Butt), had been named in the FIR for Balaj’s murder. While Gogi Butt secured bail, Teefi Butt fled to Dubai, where he was declared a proclaimed offender and faced Interpol red notices. (The Express Tribune)
The gang rivalry dates back to the early 1990s when Billa Truckanwala, the grandfather of Ameer Balaj, dominated the city’s transport sector. His main rivals were the Butt gang of Gawalmandi. Following Billa’s murder in 1994, his son Arif Ameer, known as Tipu Truckanwala, took over and expanded the gang’s influence. The Butt gang, under Teefi Butt’s leadership, sought to challenge this dominance, leading to a series of violent confrontations. (The Express Tribune)
Teefi Butt’s criminal activities were extensive, with multiple serious cases registered against him, including murder, extortion, and land grabbing. Despite his notoriety, he had managed to evade arrest for years, allegedly due to political protection and collusion between police and gangsters. (The Express Tribune)
The circumstances surrounding Butt’s death have raised questions. Some sources suggest that he was killed by his own accomplices during the encounter. However, the CCD maintains that he was a victim of the ambush. An investigation into the incident is underway. (Dunya News)
Following the incident, Butt’s body was transported to Lahore and laid to rest in a local graveyard in Naseerabad. The funeral was attended by family members and close associates. (Dawn)
The death of Teefi Butt is seen by many as the end of an era in Lahore’s underworld. It remains to be seen whether this will lead to a lasting peace or if the power vacuum will give rise to new conflicts among rival factions.
The authorities have vowed to continue their efforts to dismantle criminal networks in the region. However, the effectiveness of these measures will depend on sustained political will and the ability to address the deep-rooted corruption that has allowed such criminal enterprises to thrive.
As investigations into the circumstances of Teefi Butt’s death continue, the people of Lahore and Rahim Yar Khan await answers and hope for a future free from the grip of organized crime.
