KARACHI, May 19: Residents of Ali Mohammad Mohalla in Lyari, who have been living in constant fear after the bloody incident of April 18 and 19 midnight, have urged the government to issue arms licences to the people for selfdefence.
At a press briefing arranged in the locality which was the scene of the bloody episode in which eight persons were killed— five armed dacoits and three innocent residents— head of the Mohalla committee, Saleem Deedag, regretted the “indifferent attitude of the functionaries of the Sindh government.”
Mr Deedag, who is also director of Fishermen Cooperative Society said none of the official of the provincial government had visited the locality so far.
He said that though the provincial governor publicly lauded the role of the area people in resisting the dacoity bid and an announcement was also made to the effect that heirs of the families of the three deceased and the injured would be compensated, nothing had been done.
Deedag, flanked by the other elders of the community, said that after the incident threats were being given to the residents by the crime mafia. He produced a letter issued by the crime mafia, threatening the residents that they would strike again and take revenge.
Deedag urged that the government must issue licences to the residents for selfdefence and recruit the youths of the area in the police. He also called for immediate arrests of the absconders involved in the shootout and exemplary punishment for all those involved.
Explaining the objectives of the Mohalla committee comprising three local CBOs, he said it had been specially formed to establishe peace, harmony and brotherhood in the locality.
