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| December 14, 2007 | Friday | Zilhaj 3, 1428 |
KARACHI: Gang warfare in Lyari slows down with poll drive
KARACHI, Dec 13: As the campaigning for the forthcoming general elections picks up in the city, the gang wars that simmer under the surface in Lyari appear to have cooled down somewhat, with the combatants apparently impressed by the revival of political activities in one of the most neglected areas of the metropolis. Considered a stronghold of the Pakistan People’s Party (PPP), Lyari has in recent years witnessed severe gang warfare that has claimed hundreds of lives. Just recently, the administration’s action of putting the PPP chairperson, Benazir Bhutto, under house arrest triggered a wave of protests that claimed three lives in the area. (According to the police, the criminal elements of Lyari used the protesters as a cover for triggering violence.)
“Since Lyari is a PPP stronghold, the situation has improved considerably with the initiation of political activities, as compared to past years when the area was held hostage by the gangs,” said former PPP member of the provincial assembly, Rafiq Engineer.
Mr Engineer has been fielded by the party from Lyari for PS 109 in the coming elections. He told Dawn that “we have opened election offices in the sensitive areas of Lyari and our vote bank is rejoicing over this fact.”
By Thursday night, the PPP had set up around 40 elections offices in Lyari to take the people of the area on board and involve them in political activities, said Mr Engineer. Referring to the gangs, he said that “they have not disturbed us; their rivalry is limited to themselves” and expressed the hope that if all went well, gang warfare would not affect the forthcoming elections and things would go peacefully in Lyari.
More or less the same opinion was offered by SP Lyari town, Fayyaz Khan. “I don’t see why the gangsters would disturb peace or take any of the political parties on at this juncture,” he said. Habib Jan, a candidate for the PPP ticket for Trans Lyari PS 110, pointed out that unemployment was the root cause of all of Lyari’s social ills. He also expressed optimism that with the return of Ms Bhutto and the revival of political activities, the gang warfare would decrease, if not die out altogether.
The two main gangs involved in the Lyari unrest are those headed by Arshad Pappu and Rehman Dakait. In jail since his arrest in October last year, Arshad – who was at the time of his arrest wanted in over 60 cases of murder, attempted murder, kidnapping and other crimes – is believed to nevertheless be in contact with his men.
The whereabouts of the elusive Rehman Dakait, meanwhile, remain unclear. Some believe him to be in Lyari while others place him in the Lasbela district of Balochistan. Rehman escaped on Aug 22 last year after spending just over three months in the custody of the police and intelligence agencies. Some law-enforcement officials are of the view that Rehman’s arrest in Quetta and his subsequent escape from unofficial custody was facilitated by “an intelligence agency.” It was his second successful break-out, since he escaped while being taken to court in 1997 also.
The gangs are heavily armed and according to the residents, better equipped than the local police force. Having taken control of different localities and established their fiefdoms, these gangs safeguard their territorial limits by trading heavy gunfire that sometimes stretches over days.
Meanwhile, flourishing drug dens sell contraband – including charas, kopi, tariaq and heroin – to dealers and users, while teenagers and children are used to market the illegal substances.
Rehman Dakait has dubious political associations. Some say that he is sympathiser of the PPP, if not a supporter. Others sources maintain that he also played a role in helping the Muttahida Qaumi Movement (MQM) make inroads into Lyari.
However, none of the political parties appear interested in making any sort of contact with Rehman, at least on the record.
Talking about Rehman’s political clout, sources informed Dawn that the former chief minister of Balochistan, Jam Mohammed Yousaf, is said to enjoy good relations with the outlaw.
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