KARACHI: One of the main characters of Lyari gang warfare, Ghaffar Zikri, who had eluded law enforcers for 18 years, was gunned down with a close aide in a joint operation carried out by police and Rangers on a tip-off provided by the Intelligence Bureau (IB) in Lyari’s Baghdadi area on early Thursday morning, officials said.

His three-year-old son was also killed “during an exchange of fire”.

Two police officials also sustained bullet injuries. One of them was in a critical condition. One of his kidneys was damaged and removed by doctors.

‘Gang leader was using his minor son as a human shield to escape arrest’

Ghaffar Zikri was wanted in several dozen criminal cases and the provincial government had announced Rs2.5 million reward for his arrest.

City SSP Dr Samiullah Soomro said they had received information that for the last one week Ghaffar Zikri had frequently been visiting Lyari in an attempt to “regroup” his gang.

Since he had remained elusive for 18 years, both the city police and IB had planned a discreet operation.

The law enforcers gathered in Lyari at around 2am with 16 police mobiles where Kalakot SHO Mohammed Ali and Napier SHO Azam Khan were tasked to lead the joint operation as they were “more trustworthy” while other SHOs were asked to cordon off the whole Ali Mohammed Mohallah within the Baghdadi police limits, said the City SSP.

As contingents of police moved into the area at around 5.15am, they were attacked by the suspects who used heavy gunfire and tossed crackers and hand grenades.

Zikri tried to escape through rooftops of the adjoining houses but policemen were already posted there.

After an exchange of fire lasting one-and-a-half hours, Ghaffar Zikri and his accomplice Zahid alias Chhota were gunned down on the spot.

He was trying to flee while carrying his son when reportedly the Kalakot SHO opened a burst on him, said a police force official.

Police sub-inspector Allah Ditta and constable Mir Abid Ali were also wounded.

Zikri’s minor son, Mohammed Ali, was also hit and killed, admitted Dr Samiullah.

“Ghaffar Zikri was using his minor son as a human shield in an attempt to escape,” said DIG South Javed Alam Odho while talking to the media in Lyari.

Additional IG of Karachi Dr Ameer Ahmed Shaikh expressed his regrets over the death of the innocent child.

The city police chief said Ghaffar Zikri was the main character of the Lyari gang warfare after the killing of Rehman Dakait, Arshad Pappu and Baba Ladla and incarceration of Uzair Baloch.

From tea & biscuits to the underworld

Ghaffar Zikri, who had established a reign of terror in parts of Lyari, was a son of famous footballer Esa Baloch, according to information collected from residents.

He initially worked at the fisheries, where he used to provide tea and biscuits to fishermen also. Most of the residents of Ali Mohammed Mohallah, where the encounter took place, are fishermen.

Ghaffar Zikri was the first member of his community who joined the world of crime. He initially worked with a group led by Rehman Baloch, alias Dakait. He developed differences with Dakait as he did not allow him (Zikri) “to settle personal scores”, said an activist of Lyari, who wished not to be named.

Later on, he joined Rehman Dakait’s rival gang led by Haji Lalu, father of the slain Arshad Pappu.

Subsequently, Dakait made a “deal” with him and all other warring gangs of Lyari except Arshad Pappu’s. Thus, Ghaffar Zikri joined the then Peoples Amn Committee (PAC), allegedly patronised by certain political elements.

However, soon after Dakait’s killing in an ‘encounter’, differences emerged between Uzair Baloch, new leader of the PAC, and Ghaffar Zikri over “collection of extortion money”, said a Lyari resident familiar with the underworld.

He then joined the Arshad Pappu-led gang.

The Uzair Baloch-led gang with alleged backing of certain politicians started occupying Lyari areas that were previously under control of Ghaffar Zikri.

After the launch of the Rangers-led operation in 2013, Zikri like other gangsters fled to other parts of the country or abroad.

“Zikri had also strong links with certain elements in Balochistan,” said a source. He returned to Lyari around a year ago but kept a “low profile”.

Recently, his gang members had attacked Rangers personnel, martyring two officials, said a police source.

“Ghaffar Zikri was wanted in 100 heinous crimes and the provincial government had announced Rs2.5m reward money for him,” said City SSP Dr Samiullah Soomro.

However, an intelligence official said Zikri was involved in 65 criminal cases, including the murder of two Rangers personnel.

The intelligence official, who wished not to be named, told Dawn that after Ghaffar Zikri’s elimination, two other gangs, led by Zahid Ladla (brother of the slain Baba Ladla) and Wasiullah Lakho, were still active in Lyari but they operated from outside.

Dr Ameer Shaikh said that Lakho was now the “last target” and concerted efforts were being made to bring him to justice.

Meanwhile, both Sindh IG Dr Syed Kaleem Imam and city police chief Dr Ameer Shaikh announced a Rs1m reward for the police party that carried out the operation.

Autopsy

The dead and the injured were taken to Dr Ruth Pfau Civil Hospital Karachi.

Senior medico-legal official Dr Ali Raza Rajpar told Dawn that Ghaffar Zikri sustained six bullet wounds on different parts of his body. His aide Zahid Chhota received a single bullet wound in the head.

Zikri’s minor son, Mohammed Ali, sustained a single bullet wound on his face.

Sub-inspector Allah Ditta was shifted to the Sindh Institute of Urology and Transplantation, where his kidney, damaged in the shooting, was removed. The constable sustained injuries on his leg.

Published in Dawn, October 5th, 2018