HYDERABAD: In a surprise move, a ceasefire has been agreed by two warring gangs of Lyari and a peace committee has been formed under a newly signed declaration after an exhaustive discussion between the two sides at the Palijo House on Saturday.

Representatives of the Uzair Jan and Baba Ladla groups of Lyari moved to Hyderabad where they met Qaumi Awami Tehreek president Ayaz Latif Palijo and held talks aimed at restoring peace to Karachi in general and Lyari in particular.

Following the ‘successful’ talks, which are said to have been endorsed by the leadership of both groups, the QAT chief told a press conference that he would head the newly formed Lyari Ittehad Committee comprising members from the two sides. The LIC would ensure immediate implementation of decisions taken during the talks, he added.

Mr Palijo said that the committee members were Pakistan People’s Party MPA Sania Naz Baloch, Adnan Baloch, Arif Bulaidi Baloch, Liaquat Baloch, Mr Khursheed, Maulana Abdul Majeed Sarbazi, Nisar Baloch, Umeed Ali Baloch, Abdul Rasheed Baloch, Rais Ghulam Qadir, Anwer Soomro and Mazhar Rahu. He added that the committee had powers to include more members.

The representatives of the Uzair Jan Baloch group — MPA Sania Naz Baloch, Adnan Baloch, Arif Bulaidi Baloch and Liaquat Baloch — and the members of Baba Ladla group — Abdul Majeed Sarbazi, Nisar Baloch, Umeed Ali Baloch, Abdul Rasheed Baloch and Rais Ghulam Qadir — were present at the press conference held at the Palijo House on Saturday afternoon.

Mr Palijo said that the decision had been endorsed by the leaders of both groups, Uzair Jan and Baba Ladla over the phone. “I talked to the main leaders, Uzair and Ladla, over the phone in detail and [they] assured me of their full cooperation in restoring peace to Lyari. They also have given powers to me to make all decisions about peace,” he claimed.

He added that scores of decisions were made and the LIC headed by him would implement the decisions. He said that if member of any group violated the declaration, the leadership of that group would take action against him and remove him immediately for the sake of peace in Lyari.

He appealed to all the political parties including the PPP, Awami National Party, Muttahida Qaumi Movement, Pakistan Sunni Tehreek, Pakistan Tehreek-i-Insaaf and others to play their role in restoring peace to the city’s oldest neighbourhood.

Explaining the steps agreed by the two sides, he declared that there was no ‘no-go’ area in Lyari. If anybody had any differences, misgivings or complaints, they would contact LIC members, he advised, requesting everyone to work together for development, prosperity, peace and education.

He appealed to the people who left their homes in Lyari to return, assuring them that they would be protected. “Everybody who belongs to Lyari, regardless of his or her race, will be protected,” he declared.

He said that the LIC and people of Lyari demanded that the government pay Rs2 million in compensation to the heirs of those killed in Lyari and Rs500,000 to each wounded person.

Asked about compensation by the government while Lyari people were killed or injured by gangs, Mr Palijo said that according to Article 9 and Article 14 of the Constitution, the state is responsible for security of citizen and protection of their dignity.

He said the LIC wanted that the targeted operation by law-enforcement agencies be conducted against criminals but the law-enforcement agencies must stop ‘extrajudicial’ killings, produce all suspects including ‘missing persons’ of Lyari in court of law and withdraw fake cases against the innocent people. He said lawmaker Shahjehan Baloch who was dragged into fake cases and arrested must be released and fake cases be withdrawn. All those innocent people who were arrested in fake cases be released forthwith, he added.

He said that LIC demanded that Sindh chief minister, federal interior minister, Rangers DG and Sindh police chief visit Lyari and hear suggestions from LIC members to restore peace and eliminate crimes.

Speaking on the occasion, Sania Baloch said: “The agencies and other elements were involved in the Lyari situation. We need peace and Lyari people also need peace. That is why we are sitting here.” She said only those who committed crimes should be punished. She said that conspiracies were being hatched on the basis of politics or other elements. She said that people of Lyari asked her to help declare ceasefire as they supported peace. She said: “PPP is playing its role in restoration of peace to Lyari. We will try our best to stop this war.”

Mr Sarbazi said he wanted to see pen and books in hands of children. “We will foil any conspiracy against Lyari or its people. The youths of Layri were being forced to fight with each other under a conspiracy,” he added.