Never-ending cycle: Warring sub-groups pitch shadow political battles in Lyari
Violence on Friday was met with retaliation on Monday.
KARACHI:
At least three people were killed and over half a dozen were wounded on Monday after violence originating in Lyari spilled over.
Two bodies were found near Lyari. One was shot near Agra Taj Colony. Violence broke out in Lea Market and spread across Lyari. The worst affected areas included Khadda Market, Shah Abdul Latif Bhittai Road, Bihar Colony, Agra Taj Colony and Moosa Lane. People living here support the Katchi Rabita Committee (KRC) as well as the defunct Peoples Amn Committee (PAC).
Lyari’s SP Pervez Iqbal Bhatti told The Express Tribune that the most affected area was Khadda market where intense firing between the PAC and KRC continued. “I am aware that PAC and KRC have a conflict but how would I know why exactly they are fighting? I am surrounded by bullets and stuck here myself. Three or four people have been injured and a few died later but I am not sure about the numbers.”
A member of the banned PAC, Appu Raaz, said that they have no direct conflict with the Katchis, except for the fact that they were supporting their “enemies”. He explained that, “the Katchi community members are helping members of [a political party] sneak into PAC areas and this could not be tolerated.”
“Supporters from both parties live in these areas and they are fighting to secure their turf and homes,” said a Katchi-supporting resident.
The fight began between activists from two parties that have never traditionally opposed each other. Later, the KRC joined hands with one of them and the PAC allied itself with the other. The fight actually started on Friday, when one party’s activists attacked the other’s areas adjacent to Lyari. Monday’s violence was a reaction to this. With the support of the KRC, the ‘wounded’ party planned to enter the Lea Market area, capture it and to locate the men from the party who attacked them.
KRC protest
A score of people belonging to the Katchi community staged a protest on Maripur Road on Monday.
They staged a sit-in protest which attracted the newly appointed Sindh home minster, Manzoor Wasan. But he failed to broker any peace.
The KRC’s Zahid Lohar said that each time the Katchi people were fed lies. Earlier on, former home minister Zulfiqar Mirza said he would meet their demands but never delivered. “Wasan does not even have the courage to visit the affected areas even with protocol and we live and die there,” said Lohar.
They told Wasan that if he was not brave enough to visit the area then he should go home. Wasan began to move towards his car and the protesters shouted at him and hurled stones at his vehicles.
Published in The Express Tribune, July 12th, 2011.
At least three people were killed and over half a dozen were wounded on Monday after violence originating in Lyari spilled over.
Two bodies were found near Lyari. One was shot near Agra Taj Colony. Violence broke out in Lea Market and spread across Lyari. The worst affected areas included Khadda Market, Shah Abdul Latif Bhittai Road, Bihar Colony, Agra Taj Colony and Moosa Lane. People living here support the Katchi Rabita Committee (KRC) as well as the defunct Peoples Amn Committee (PAC).
Lyari’s SP Pervez Iqbal Bhatti told The Express Tribune that the most affected area was Khadda market where intense firing between the PAC and KRC continued. “I am aware that PAC and KRC have a conflict but how would I know why exactly they are fighting? I am surrounded by bullets and stuck here myself. Three or four people have been injured and a few died later but I am not sure about the numbers.”
A member of the banned PAC, Appu Raaz, said that they have no direct conflict with the Katchis, except for the fact that they were supporting their “enemies”. He explained that, “the Katchi community members are helping members of [a political party] sneak into PAC areas and this could not be tolerated.”
“Supporters from both parties live in these areas and they are fighting to secure their turf and homes,” said a Katchi-supporting resident.
The fight began between activists from two parties that have never traditionally opposed each other. Later, the KRC joined hands with one of them and the PAC allied itself with the other. The fight actually started on Friday, when one party’s activists attacked the other’s areas adjacent to Lyari. Monday’s violence was a reaction to this. With the support of the KRC, the ‘wounded’ party planned to enter the Lea Market area, capture it and to locate the men from the party who attacked them.
KRC protest
A score of people belonging to the Katchi community staged a protest on Maripur Road on Monday.
They staged a sit-in protest which attracted the newly appointed Sindh home minster, Manzoor Wasan. But he failed to broker any peace.
The KRC’s Zahid Lohar said that each time the Katchi people were fed lies. Earlier on, former home minister Zulfiqar Mirza said he would meet their demands but never delivered. “Wasan does not even have the courage to visit the affected areas even with protocol and we live and die there,” said Lohar.
They told Wasan that if he was not brave enough to visit the area then he should go home. Wasan began to move towards his car and the protesters shouted at him and hurled stones at his vehicles.
Published in The Express Tribune, July 12th, 2011.