Glistening prospects of making money and becoming rich overnight without ever having to go to school attract these young minds. PHOTO: FILE
During my experience, I learnt that the rate of crime in most of these areas is higher as compared to the rest of Karachi. Many young boys, ranging in age from 12 to 18 years, are trained to leak secret information that could be helpful in executing crimes. These boys usually drop out of school after the eighth standard, and indulge in crimes, such as cellphone snatching, extortion, and even target killing.
At my institute, I see boys undergo a dramatic change in their attitude as soon as they turn 12. They start copying Bollywood actors who play the ‘bad guy’ in the movies, and they start eating gutka and paan, smoking cigarettes and taking drugs. Belonging to underprivileged families, these boys often cannot afford these drugs so they resort to crime to bear these expenses. After that, the one bad apple rots the entire community.
Their inspirations are usually notorious criminals wanted by the police. Glistening prospects of making money and becoming rich overnight without ever having to go to school attract these young minds. They admire goons and extortionists who go to the market and take whatever they like for free by threatening to kill people.
Recently, a gang from this area called ‘Gang War’ threatened a shop owner and demanded money. They put a gun on the man’s head when he refused. Luckily, the shopkeeper also had a gun under the counter. As soon he took it out, the gangsters fled. The police were able to find just only of them after the shopkeeper gave his testimony as an eyewitness; the rest are still at large. Rightfully fearing for his life, the shopkeeper wrapped up his entire business, closed down his shop and moved to another neighbourhood.
These gangsters often terrorise people by demanding large sums of money from owners of small businesses by sending them what is called a ‘parchi’ (chit) or token. The parchis are delivered by teenage boys who have just joined the gang. They are paid to carry out these duties. Once they have a pistol, it indicates complete security for them as they are now part of the gang.
My own uncle, a mechanic who lives in Ittehad Town, is a regular victim of these extortionists. He earns a mere three to four hundred rupees a day and lives in a small rented house. But he encounters the extortionists every day, who snatch his daily earnings as he returns home. Sadly, for my uncle there is no way out as there is only one route that leads from his shop to his house. Thus, everyday, he suffers silently.
Steering in the right direction
There is much to be done about this nation’s underprivileged youth to prevent them from getting involved in crime. We need many more volunteers to step forward and introduce long-term educational projects if there is any hope for our underprivileged youth. If we let this go on, over half of the Pakistani youth may become professional killers and criminals in the future.
The writer is a resident of Baldia Town and is running an institute called, YES Alumni Community Learning Centre
Published in The Express Tribune, May 29th, 2013.
COMMENTS (12)
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@Syed A. Mateen: thank you sir for reading and giving your precious words as feed back to my article . i seriously want some work here with these kids to safe their future.
@Effendi: thank you sir for appreciating my efforts .
@Kamran Azim: yes Kamran you are right , political parties used them for their own benefit in most of the cases.
You are an inspiration. You are trying, but please, take my advice, don't be the only person living in an abandoned, broken down, filthy apartment building. If no one else is doing social service, its not just because they don't care, or don't want to take out the time. It may be for fear of thier life as well.
Again, I appreciate what you're doing, but please, stop. People like you are deserved in other countries. Over here, who cares?
Rick.
PS. I'll get a lot of abuse for saying the above, but I'll take it if you leave.
You have inspired me with your words and your passion. I could not have thought that people like you are making a difference in the lives of many. Baldia Town and its residents will thank you one day. Changing the life of even one of these boys will be a drop in the ocean. We are seeing hope through you.
We have realized that change will not come through politics. It will come from people like you! Please continue this work and be safe as you are challenging a very dangerous circle.
Since 1988, MQM and PPP are in power in Sindh, this is what we get from their politics :(
It's all linked to lack of education n civic sense. After all, when we are more concerned about starting a metro bus rather than opening up new schools and metro bus when you have one of the lowest literacy rates.This is bound to happen.
May God bless you for doing a great job and help your uncle and others like him
May Allah bless you for the work you are doing!
There's so much story in Pakistan.
So many interesting, unexplored stories in Pakistan. It makes me wonder why Pakistani films cheaply ape Bollywood?!!
A sad truth. I am sure most them are used by politicians for their own benefits. An institution within institution, one is right (you), and one is wrong (politicians criminal breeding ground). You are doing a wonderful job, May God help you and help us all.
It is very unfortunate that in some areas of Karachi, the younger generation on whose shoulders responsibilities are to be shifed from their elders are becoming criminals in the young age.
The main cause of becoming a criminal is that criminals get easy money every day, whereas a labourer or a person who go out on a job gets his hard earned salary after one long month.
The question arises: in which direction the nation is moving forward?
Why don't the parents or elderly people of the area do not tell to these young criminals that to earn easy money is not a dignified job?
The priority and preferences with the passage of time has changed a lot. The rich is becoming filty rich and the poor is becoming more poorer.
Due to social imbalance in the society, people more particularly the children, have changed their minds to become rich over night. But this trend has a very negative impact on the society.
There are more good people in the society than the bad people, but slowly and gradually bad people are increasing and the number of good people are decreasing.
This is very alarming situation.
If this nonsense is not stopped forthwith, I am afraid that it would become almost impossible for the good and peaceful citizens to live in this sort of society, which is instead of becoming honourable citizens of Pakistan are becoming bad characters and a serious threat of the good, well behaved and upcoming generations to come.