I RESIDE in Quetta and went to Karachi to spend my winter vacations with relatives in Lyari.

After a fortnight in the oldest locality of this city, the realisation struck me that residents of this locality are not exaggerating their woes.

I have seen boys who were no older than thirteen playing with weapons and grenades.

They had no qualms whatsoever to threaten and extort money from whomsoever they pounced upon.

To an outsider like me, it seems that the operation launched against criminals is not having the desired effect.

On a number of occasions, I saw gangsters roaming without fear and terrorising people with impunity.

More regretfully, drugs and other contraband were easily available, pointing to the fact that another generation is likely to be lost.

B. Arif

Quetta

Published in Dawn, February 27th, 2015

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