KARACHI, Dec 8: Lyari hit the headlines recently because of an ongoing gang war, involving two notorious mafia groups, in which more than 100 people, most of them teenagers, have lost their lives so far.

Authorities have failed to apprehend the criminals responsible for the gruesome murders and spreading the great deal of panic that has gripped the area for months together.

Prima facie, the gang war has nothing to do with politics or political groups. It is being regarded as simply a law and order problem. But the prolonged series of killings calls for giving a serious thought to it as it may no more be a purely administrative issue.

The youth of the area who have genuine grievances vis-à-vis livelihood, basic facilities, fundamental rights, etc. are becoming increasingly volatile as their grievances redouble instead of declining with the passage of time.

Even a casual visitor may fully realise how troublesome is life in Lyari where people have been made to live in subhuman conditions. Narrow and congested roads are a permanent nuisance and source of noise pollution.

Insanitation poses serious threat to people's health as overflowing gutters expose everyone around to infections diseases. Small children are most vulnerable to these hazards as they usually play outdoors because of inadequate accommodation in their houses for the purpose.

They also have no option but to play within a small piece of open land surrounded by heaps of garbage, sewage, etc. There are no playgrounds or parks for children in most of the Lyari localities.

Thanks to foreign remittances, some people had managed to raise new buildings after demolishing old structures on their plots, though without any proper planning. However, this has only multiplied problems and led to a further increase in congestion. Unchecked proliferation of garages and godowns in residential areas has made living conditions intolerable.

By employing child labour for their daily routine work, operators of such establishments expose youngsters from poor families to health hazards linked with insanitation and toxic substances. Forced to work for their own survival and that of their families, many of such children have to put in 10 hours a day, seven days a week.

Another major problem in the area is the narcotics trade. It has spawned a new rich class in the area whose ill-gotten wealth makes them socially powerful as they maintain close links with high-ups in local administration.

This class opposes any initiative by young people in the area considering socially active youths a threat to their illegal business. There have been cases of young social workers being beaten up or even sent to jails.

Of late, a strong movement by youth of Lyari was launched against narcotic peddlers. The movement is reflective of a positive approach the youth have and it suggests that they want a radical change in the whole social set-up they are made to live in.

Social deprivation and unemployment have hardened their individual attitude. They are ready to face any challenge. Moreover, they have recognised their own social importance and are in no way prepared to accept any injustice perpetrated by the administration.

Since there are no proper communication channels or forums available to them to give vent to their pent-up feelings, they cannot be blamed for being swayed into action by emotive issues.

It's time voices of these youth be heard sympathetically. The administrative measures being taken against them offer no solution to the problems which have been agitating their minds for a long time.

At present, a large number of the youth are jobless. Though quite a few of them are educated, there are many with board certificates and university degrees. It is the need of the hour that authorities should change their attitude and take steps to improve the lot of the people in the area.

In the case of youths, the immediate priority should be creation of job opportunities. The police personnel openly patronizing drug trade and maintaining links with peddlers should be taken to task.

One thing is clear; the people who were elected through party less polls have failed to represent the people of the area honestly and fairly. While these people were agitating recently for basic amenities and better living conditions, their so called representatives played no role whatsoever to come up to the expectations of their electorates.