May 14, 2008	Wednesday	Jamadi-ul-Awwal 8, 1429

KARACHI, May 13: Residents of Lyari are not going to get respite from the continuing gang warfare anytime soon as the two gangs operating in the area are believed to be enjoying the patronage of intelligence and law-enforcement agencies besides drawing a certain level of political support, it has been learnt.

The Rangers have declined to play any role in operations in Lyari, saying that they are a backup force, well-placed sources told Dawn.

It seems that a proxy power struggle of different forces is taking place in Lyari as the two gangs headed by Rehman Dakait and Arshad Pappu enjoy support of people in the corridors of power.

Police officials believed to be in contact with the gangs have been transferred from the town. The present force posted in Lyari is receiving threats from the two gangs.

A DSP-level officer has asked his superiors to transfer him from Lyari as, according to him, Rehman Dakait has become annoyed with him and sent him a message to either ‘disappear’ or get ready to be killed.

Similarly, several low-ranking police personnel posted in Lyari have become absent from work fearing for their lives. A well-placed source told Dawn that Rehman Dakait was being patronized by two spymasters of the country while the front man of Arshad Pappu, Ghaffar Zakri, was drawing support from the paramilitary force. Similarly, the political parties having stakes in the city are also reported to have nexus with the two gangs, the sources said.

The recent withdrawal of police from a half-baked job in Ali Muhammad Mohallah, where police were pitted against the Ghaffar Zakri group, was a sure sign that police hierarchy did not enjoy a free hand even in pursuing the gangsters of Lyari.

Sources close to the Central Police Office said the new SP of Lyari was posted in the area against his will and he was doing a half-hearted job in view of the shifting policies of the police hierarchy on the Lyari issue.

“The officer is counting days for his departure to join the UN mission,” a senior officer in the CPO said.

Source said that having a sizable drug economy, Lyari provided a share called “monthly” to almost all the different wings and units of the police department.

Sources privy to the Central Police Office said that Rangers had declined to participate in Lyari operations, saying that they would only restrict themselves to performing duties as a backup force. They have simply refused to enter the narrow lanes of the densely populated area despite having better equipment than police, a police officer pointed out.

Recently Rangers have acquired new armoured personal carriers while the police department is yet to get new APCs, a basic requirement for any type of policing in Lyari.