Tribune’s Gamechangers 2011: Peoples Amn Committee

Redefining the term ‘gangsta’.

The story of the Peoples Amn Committee would have been lapped up by Martin Scorsese.

The Baloch-majority group, headquartered and based in Lyari, was formed by the late Rehman Dakait, a gang leader who ‘reformed’ himself and re-emerged as ‘Sardar Abdul Rahman Baloch’. In the past few years, the group has been blamed for everything from targeted killings, extortion and torture, but it enjoys the support – covertly and overtly – of the Pakistan Peoples Party. Zulfiqar Mirza took up PAC’s cause this year, but his resignation meant that PAC was left without a public defender. The group has now been banned.

PAC, for its part, denies it plays a role in the violence and points to its work in defending Lyari and its residents as a sign of its positive impact.

Quote: “Weapons? Who doesn’t have arms in Pakistan?” - PAC leader Uzair Jan Baloch